Come September 30th, my mind invariably meanders on memories of our pomeranian pet, Betsy. For, this was the day she was born. Since for some strange reason her size had got dwarfed, she looked eternally like an endearing pup! She was an important part of our family and was always cocooned.

For a canine, her intelligence was stupendous. With alacrity, she’d learn new tricks, and would steal the show before all our friends. For instance, whenever someone chanted a bhajan, within a trice, balancing precariously on her hind legs, she would lift up her fore legs and strike her paws against each other! And, in the same stance, she would wave at us a warm ta-ta when any of us stepped out of the compound gate.

She was so submissive that she seldom gave us a chance to reprimand her for any of her misdemeanours. She was never the one to indulge in any kind of destructive escapades. Leave alone nibbling at papers, clothes, she wouldn’t even touch them. 

Betsy was a peace-lover. Whenever we took her for a walk, the moment she spotted some ferocious mongrel, she would start tugging at our clothes, imploring us to stretch out our arms! And the instant we did that, she’d swiftly spring into the crook of our arms, and would lay there safely cradled.

I still remember how she despised cold winter nights. She would snuggle into our blanket layers, and sleep along with us, with her head rested on the pillow!

When I left for Mumbai after my marriage, and my younger sibling packed off to US, we had to  hand her over to one of our friends.

But we were apprised of how she was doing. Initially, it seems, she tried acclimatising to her new environment. And one fine day, while on a stroll, she vamoosed! To me, even today, the whole thing looks premeditated – the way Betsy had managed all her nifty moves!