November 23. “Button, that lump Rani has on the right side of her shoulder worries me.”

“Is it a solid mass?”

“It’s not solid. It is very soft and feels hot to the touch. When my elder daughter took her for her monthly check-up to the vet, and took out the liquid which was like clear water, the lump disappeared. There was nothing there and even I was shocked to see Rani back home without the lump. But the blister is filling up again and, this time round, the vet wants to operate and send the lump for biopsy.”

“Don’t do all that. Just let Rani be.”

“We feel exactly the way you feel. She’s okay the way she is. She’s eating well and is full of beans: Who in their senses would want to disturb that?”

“How old is she?”

“She’s 9.”