I Swear You Will Be Fine

Dear Josh,

You must not have been happy about this. Knight ran away again. But as you know, he was found about 30 minutes later.

This episode was very different. I was in a meeting again. Ammamma called me distressed, but not as distressed as the last time he ran away. My heart dropped, but only slightly. I tried to think what to do. Jess was not here. I couldn’t get out of my meeting. So I asked Ammamma to call Shalini, who very kindly offered to go over and help look for him. While I was in my meeting, I texted Shalini to tell her to get your phone in case someone finds him and calls you. My mind was racing, but only slightly. I was preparing for the worst, comforting myself that maybe you wanted him with you. But I also silently asked you to please keep him safe. Strangely, this time he ran away even though Tun was at home. Maybe he was looking for you? Thank goodness we found him not too far away. And before he got hurt. In fact, when Tun found him, he was sunbathing on a grass patch next to the mosque….

Later, I was thinking about the last time he ran away. It was August 2023. Ammamma, Jess and I were about to fly out that night for your cousin’s wedding. I was in a meeting again. When Ammamma called, I thought something had happened to Patta. She was super distressed, and told me Knight had run away. I told her I would leave my meeting. Though I was worried about Knight, I was more worried about you. I called Jess and told her to get you and Tun and get to Ammamma’s house. And to keep looking for him. Jess later told me you were actually relatively calm. You both called the vet and quickly put it up on Facebook. I drove around and found Ammamma, and then we kept driving. I was actually looking for an accident and thinking I had to cancel our travel plans. Thank God, about 45 minutes later, the stupid dog (ok maybe not so stupid), came walking home. When Patta called to say he had returned, I didn’t quite believe it. When you came home, you were angry, but didn’t say anything. You then decided the dogs wouldn’t be allowed to go there anymore, and we didn’t dare to oppose you. It was months later under your watchful eye that we brought the dogs there again.

As worried as we were this time, it paled in comparison to the last time he ran away. I was a little worried about what I would have to tell Jess. And I was worried about Shalini too. But it was nothing compared to how much I worried about how you would take it if something had happened to Knight. I guess, after going through what we went through with your passing, it’s no longer the worst that can happen.

I guess you were sending us a bit of a warning- “Be careful with my dogs!!!”. Ok Josh, got it. We will be more careful. Shalini and I ordered new dog tags that night. Purple ones, this time with my contact number. But Shalini wanted yours too. So my contact number is first, and yours is second. Fair?

But thank you for returning him to us, safe and sound, even though I know you must miss him so much.

Love Mum