June 23. “Why don’t you take Rani inside your bedroom at night the way your elder daughter lets Mowgli sleep on her bed?”

“I’ve tried but Rani insists on sleeping in the hall. Perhaps that’s her way of telling us that she’s doing her job as a watchdog and, indirectly, telling us that she’s grateful to us for giving her a home and making her part of the family.”

“She’s very good as a watchdog.”

“Very. The slightest noise and she switches on to alert-mode.”

“Has it ever happened that there has been an intruder?”

“No. But she’s extremely cautious.”

“She’s Dost’s girl through and through though.”

“Do you know that Dost’s room was inaccessible to even his staff. Not a soul could enter his room without first taking Rani’s permission. Even in his absence, she would sit outside his room and guard it.”

“She’s also very obedient.”

“Obedient only towards him. He has to call out her name just once for her to run to him. And every morning, after Dost wakes up, she goes to his side of the bed religiously for him to pat her on the head.”

“That is the reason why they are called man’s best friend.”