It was Dusshera. The sound of King Ravana along with his brother and son going up in flames, was booming all around. We assumed that Rain, an Indie I had found as a month-old pup looking for her mother three years ago on Pine Drive and brought home as it was going to pour heavily (hence the name), and never had the heart to leave back on the streets, was hiding under the bed upstairs as she’s mortally terrified of crackers. The next morning, we realised that she was missing. Was perhaps standing at the door and ran out of it in panic when the crackers started bursting.
What ensued over the next five days was agonising for all in the family. With zero survival skills and extreme stranger anxiety, Rain had very slim chances of making it. The word spread fast amongst the dog lovers of Malibu and Gurgaon. All swung into action. A kind soul from South City II created a poster and floated it around. Others kept a lookout and kept sending me videos. Even if they weren’t of Rain, it was nonetheless heartbreaking to see the poor animals lost, confused, and shivering in terror. We went all over town, responding to calls that Rain was spotted but no luck.
Many from the community suggested animal communicators. They are believed to communicate with the animals telepathically. Skeptical yet wanting to try every option to bring her back, I engaged a couple of them and sent them all the details about the dog they needed. They both said the same thing: that Rain is within a few hundred meters radius and doesn’t know her way back home. The locations Rain was supposed to be showing them pointed to the Hanuman Mandir area. One even predicted that Rain would come home before Oct 18.
On the early morning of the17th, as I lay on my sofa, after yet another sleepless night, grieving, having left the door and gate open in case Rain came back, I felt a cold nose on my crying face. Assuming it to be a storm, my other dog, I opened my eyes. Rain stood before my eyes, panting, smiling, and wagging her tail. I let out a shriek of joy!
As the communicator had said, Rain was tiring more of thirst than hunger, and she lapped up an enormous amount of water soon after returning.
Another one asked us to check for an injury on her leg. And it was there. A small wound.
We really would never know what eventually worked. The efforts, the prayers, the communicators? Maybe the belief in it all. We’re just glad that our brave girl made it back. Many don’t.
