Love Story

It was during the vacations of class XI^th when I made friends with Bunny. I was staying over with my cousins and that’s where he used to reside. We struck an instant chemistry and became very good friends. My cousin used to tease me that he seems to have a crush on me. Their remarks never bugged me because I had become excessively fond of him as well.

I never had so much fun as I had during that wonderful fortnight. He was ever so jovial and warm. From morning till midnight we used to be together, my cousins, Bunny and myself. We had one hell of a gang! Those were the only vacations when I used to wake up at dawn because Bunny always insisted on a morning jog. Life was always full of fun and action with him. His constant playful demands didn’t leave any scope for a dull moment in our lives. I was happy. Besides I used to feel a certain sense of security whenever he was with us. We used to roam around the town almost the entire day creating some racket or the other and dare anyone take a chance on us! Nah! Not while Bunny is with us.

Those were the days…

Like all good stories our story was also about to take a turn. The vacations were about to get over. Bunny and me had become too attached to each other. He would never leave my side and his preference towards me above others was evident. On the penultimate day of my stay I was highly restless, I didn’t knew how to tell him that we were to be separated for a long time. I couldn’t gather the courage and slept with an upset heart. I can’t remember what I had eaten that night that the next day I woke up with an upset stomach.

It was 4:30 in the morning when I made my first trip to the lavatory. Everyone was sleeping but Bunny, who woke up instantly to attend to the ailing me. Though incapable of helping me in anyway he never left my side. He would follow me till the lavatory door whenever I had to run to answer a convulsion in my tummy. Then he would come back with me and lie down by the side of my bed.

My aunt gave me some medicine but I couldn’t catch the planned train. Despite my situation I was glad to have gained some extra moments with Bunny. His gloominess and concern for my suffering was touching. He was normally a compulsive foodie but that day he didn’t even touch anything till I was fit enough to have tea and biscuits.

In one uncontrollably vulnerable moment he came up to my bed and lay down beside me. His love was so pure that I did the only right thing to do…I cuddled him up.

*Sigh*

I had to leave by the evening train, my school was to open the next day. I didn’t have the courage to say good-bye to him. My heart felt like it will burst with emotions; I didn’t want him to see my tear filled eyes. I knew he wouldn’t let me go. I sneaked out of house while he wasn’t watching and left for Delhi.

His agony when he realized what had happened is beyond description. Shattered with my betrayal and slyness he kept barking the whole day. My dear, my pet, my puppy Bunny! Oh! How much I will always miss your unconditional love and regret my betrayal!

Epilogue

I returned a few months later with a resolve to undo my wrongdoing. I was sure that he’d forgive me and once again lick my feet or bite my fingers like he used to. But it was too late by then. An irresponsible visitor had left the main gate open one day and Bunny went out on the road unattended. My cousins kept looking for him for days but never got any clue as to what happened to him. Maybe he was kidnapped or got lost or perhaps got…killed. Life made me pay a heavy price for my irresponsible deed; it didn’t let me have a second chance.