Pyare lives on in the hearts of his 'friends'

By Manu Shrivastava

The wooden, once immaculately polished doors of this publication’s office in Colaba bear a flurry of scratch marks that speak stories of a dog who would sit on its haunches and scratch away violently at the doors to announce his arrival. He would gather a crowd of passers-by who would stop and stare at the dog’s so human-like behaviour and refuse to relent till the door was finally opened.

Important editorial meetings or legal parleys notwithstanding, Pyare as he would be called by the staff was a daily fixture in the scheme of things. He would bolt in, once the door was opened, push aside all and sundry in the way and sit plum at his predetermined corner, below a chair.

ETCHED IN MEMORY: Pyare outside this publication's Colaba office where
his scratches on the door remain visible till date

After roaming about all of Colaba Market, he would arrive on his own will and leave also only when he felt like. No amount of cajoling or pushing would force him to do anything against his will: And, he was a large dog to top it. But with children he’d be gentle as ever. 

So, when a neighbourhood Maverick, three-year-old Fizan would come over to meet his ‘friends’ at the office, he would inevitably tap Pyare on the head and whisper, ‘O Pyade’. For newcomers, it was quite a sight watching the toddler talk to the large dog who would respond with utmost gentleness. Fizan would sit on the chair below which Pyare would hold guard. 

He was Fizan’s bestie among other animals and birds who would respond as swiftly to the boy’s calls. “Pyade ko bulaun?” would threaten Fizan each time he wanted to get something from his family who would be left befuddled every time as to who was this ‘Pyade’ whose name Fizan would drop left, right and centre. After all, they had never seen him ‘in person.’

BARGING IN: Every time, Pyare would see a tiny opening, he'd barge his way in to the office

And then, arrived the national lockdown in March 2020 when all of Mumbai including Colaba was shut down. Fizan’s family kept the boy indoors as toddlers were not permitted to stay out and Pyare stayed back, indoors, at Colaba Koliwada a containment zone.

Two months later, in August when things started opening out and Fizan too started moving out, he arrived to this office to ask about his friend ‘Pyade’ who was nowhere to be seen.

On inquiry, it was learnt that one day, during the lockdown, Pyare had arrived to the Colaba Koliwada extremely petrified after roaming in the neighbourhood of Colaba market. Apparently, he refused to eat any food and looked scared. His health continued to deteriorate swiftly over the next few days and then, on the night Cyclone Nisarga made landfall in Mumbai, he died!

LOVED: A video (click to play) made in memory of Pyare by
his 'friends' in Colaba Koliwada

Local residents of Colaba Koliwada, particularly children, who knew Pyare as Dayavan were heartbroken. Yet, during the lockdown, they ensured Pyare aka Dayavan gets a proper burial in the neighbourhood. And, all this while, the rest of Colaba, including Fizan had no idea about it.

And then, when Fizan was told about his friend ‘Pyade’ having died, he was a year older. He just stood numb with tears brimming all over the four-year-old cheeks. “Pyade wapis aayega, woh kidhar bhi nahin gaya,” he said with a distinct conviction in his voice.

And so, this office keeps Pyare’s scratch marks on the main door as a fond memory of a dog who would behave like a human with his human – Fizan who, now, waits for ‘Pyade’ to arrive. And, force his way through the door and sit below his chair. 

For the world, Pyare’s gone, for Fizan, he’s away for a bit.

#StreetSmart is a column on street animals who live and die among us and get immortalised forever. If you know of such an animal, contact us on thedraftcolaba@draftcraft.in with a story complete with images. The Draft Colaba will document their journey and publish it here.