Oreo, my dog, is very choosy when it comes to making friends with other pets. I tried many times to get him to bond with other furry creatures in our neighbourhood, but every attempt failed.
My neighbour’s dog, Timi, always comes out whenever Oreo steps outside. She’s a golden Pomeranian, very friendly, and both my wife and I adore her. In fact, before Oreo joined our family, Timi would visit our home almost every day. But Oreo shows no interest in her. He stays distant and behaves indifferently in her company.
Instead, Oreo’s best friend is a street dog named Kalu. Whenever I take Oreo for a walk, he pulls me toward the street where Kalu lives. The moment we enter, Kalu suddenly appears from nowhere. As soon as they see each other, their tails wag wildly, and they greet each other with sniffs. Then Kalu joins Oreo for the rest of the walk.
In the park, they chase each other and playfully wrestle. What fascinates Oreo, I think, are Kalu’s stories from his adventurous life. Kalu tells of choosing different cars to nap under, chasing bikes and cars that pass through his street, and fighting with dogs from the next lane.
In return, Kalu listens with interest to Oreo’s tales of squeaky toys, tasty meals, and his shiny collar. They share stories of two very different worlds—Oreo’s life behind walls and Kalu’s life outside them.
Sometimes, when I watch them, I imagine a scene straight out of the Bollywood classic Deewar. Oreo, standing tall, might say:
“I have a doghouse, toys, and an endless supply of pedigree. What do you have?”
And Kalu, with a proud wag of his tail, would reply:
“I have freedom.”
Different lives, different choices, but one bond of friendship that makes them equal.
