Lessons from a noble soul, our dog

Lessons from a noble soul, our dog

In 2008, my husband Dr. Ashish Bose, brought home a tiny black Labrador pup with starry eyes who was formally named Zabo Vikramaditya Bose. Throughout his life, he was called Bhoot by everybody.

We are a family of dog lovers. Over the past 40 years we always had many dogs, mostly black Labradors, who have been a part of our family.  I remember vividly, our Bhoot’s first appearance in our life. The small pup’s shining eyes were peeping from beneath my husband’s overcoat, and a tiny bell hung from his neck whose tinkling sound preceded him everywhere. In the evening with his faltering puppy steps, he went into the garden and his black shining body melted into the darkness. “Bhoot where are you?” The pup responded happily to his new name and emerged out of nowhere. And from then on, he was called Bhoot or more lovingly, Bhutum.

Bhoot was friendly from the beginning and was ready to jump in every body’s lap and within moments, became the object of amusement for all of us. He won our hearts, and we were completely bowled out by his affection and mischief. Bhoot had a saintly nature. All were his friends. He never had any enemy. Bhoot welcomed all, wagging his tail and making a funny movement on his belly. Every morning he brought the rolled up newspaper to my husband, and got his prize – a piece of biscuit.
His divine nature had but one weakness - he was very fond of eating. Officially he had two meals a day. But unofficially he was present at every one’s mealtime. While he never overtly begged for food, his expressive eyes were hard to avert while eating and a small treat shared at mealtimes was often all that was needed to elicit expressions of great joy.
Bhoot’s communication skills were excellent. With his expressive eyes, wagging tail, and with a faint murmuring sound from his voice, he could express anything he wanted. His language was no less expressive than human words. After my husband passed away in April, he kept us alive joyfully, with his playfulness.

Now he is no more with us. After a few hours sickness, he left us all heart broken.
I pray this noble soul is reborn as a great human being and brings joy to many more as he did with unconditioned love for us in this lifetime.
I believe that nothing happens by chance. He came in our life for a short but joyous seven years, and through his life we realized the taste of true happiness. He played his earthly role perfectly. Perhaps he’s playing Frisbee with his master happily across a sprawling green meadow right now.
I miss you my child. And I’m grateful for the lesson I’ve learned - there is but one mission in life for all, and that is unconditional love. In such a short time Bhoot proved and practiced this truth in golden letters in all our hearts.
Your mother’s heartfelt blessings will be always with you my dearest Bhutum. May God’s blessings be with you forever.