A Ride to Remember

It was a cool autumn evening when two couples—Jahan with his wife, Priya, and Krishna with his partner, Aanya—decided to go for a leisurely bike ride through the quiet streets of their neighbourhood. The air was crisp, and the golden hues of the setting sun painted the sky with a gentle glow. The evening felt perfect, full of laughter and conversations as they cycled side by side.

Suddenly, as they approached a bend in the road, they noticed something small moving in front of them. It was a tiny, trembling puppy, no bigger than the palm of their hand, seemingly abandoned and scared. The little puppy stood frozen in the middle of the path, unsure of where to go.

Jahan was the first to slow down, signalling the others to stop. The couples exchanged concerned glances. Priya immediately hopped off her bike and crouched down to the puppy, her heart melting at the sight of its innocent, pleading eyes.

"Oh, it's so small! It must be lost," she said softly, gently picking the puppy up.

Krishna and Aanya quickly joined her. "Poor thing," Aanya cooed, running her fingers through the puppy’s soft fur. "We can't just leave it here. It looks hungry and scared."

Without a second thought, they decided to take the puppy home with them. They wrapped it in Krishna’s jacket, and the little bundle of fur seemed to calm down, snuggling into the warmth. The couples cycled back, with the puppy nestled safely between them.



Over the next few weeks, the puppy became an inseparable part of their lives. They named him Buddy, a fitting name for a new best friend. Jahan and Priya would take turns feeding him and playing with him in the garden, while Krishna and Aanya often took him for walks in the park. Buddy's playful energy and love brought so much joy to their lives that it felt like he had always been there.

Buddy became their loyal companion, always there to greet them with a wagging tail and a happy bark. The couples grew closer as they shared the responsibility of caring for him. Every weekend, they would plan outings, whether it was to the park, the beach, or even camping trips, all centred around Buddy’s joyful presence. He was the heart of their small group.

But one morning, something went terribly wrong.



It was a Sunday, and the couples had planned a picnic in the park. Priya was in the kitchen, preparing snacks, while Jahan and Krishna were outside packing up the car. Aanya was playing fetch with Buddy in the yard, tossing a small rubber ball across the grass.

Buddy, as usual, dashed after the ball with excitement, his tail wagging furiously. But after a few minutes, when Aanya called him back, there was no response. She looked around, but Buddy was nowhere in sight.

“Buddy?” she called out, her voice growing worried. She scanned the yard and noticed the gate was slightly open. Panic surged through her. Buddy had never wandered off before.

“Aanya, is everything alright?” Jahan asked, walking over when he saw her looking distressed.

“Buddy’s gone,” she replied, her voice shaking. "The gate... it’s open."

In an instant, everyone sprung into action. Jahan, Krishna, and Aanya ran out into the street, calling Buddy’s name, hoping he hadn’t gone too far. Priya joined them, her heart pounding with fear.



They spent hours combing the neighbourhood. They checked every corner, every alley, asking neighbours if they had seen Buddy. Some people joined in the search, but as the sun began to set, their hope started to fade.

“We’ve looked everywhere,” Krishna said, his voice heavy with worry. “Where could he be?”

Priya suggested they split up. “Maybe we can cover more ground if we go in pairs. We can ask the local shops and the vet clinic nearby.”

They printed out flyers with Buddy’s picture and began posting them around town. Everyone was tired, but none of them were willing to give up. Buddy was more than just a pet—he was family.



The next day, still no sign of Buddy. Despair had begun to settle in, but Aanya had one last idea. “Let’s check the park. He loves it there. Maybe someone saw him, or he wandered there on his own.”

With renewed hope, they rushed to the park. As they walked around calling his name, Jahan noticed something—a small boy playing with a puppy that looked strikingly familiar.

“That’s Buddy!” Jahan exclaimed, running toward the boy, who was sitting on a bench with his mother.

The boy looked up, startled, as the couples approached.

“We’ve been looking for him everywhere!” Priya said, her voice breaking with relief.

The boy’s mother smiled kindly. “We found him wandering by the road yesterday. He didn’t have a collar, so we brought him home to keep him safe.”

Krishna knelt down, his eyes filled with tears, and called Buddy’s name. The little puppy, recognizing the familiar voice, leapt into his arms, licking his face with excitement.

“Thank you so much for taking care of him,” Aanya said gratefully to the boy and his mother.



With Buddy safe in their arms, they returned home, overwhelmed with relief and joy. That evening, the two couples sat together in their garden, with Buddy curled up in the middle of them, his small body warm and content.

They reflected on how much the little puppy had brought them together, not just as friends, but as a family. They had faced the fear of losing him, but through their shared love and determination, they found their way back to him.

And from that day on, Buddy never left their side again. He remained their constant companion, the symbol of their bond, reminding them that love, in any form, is worth fighting for.

Buddy had come into their lives by chance, but he would stay with them forever, growing older by their side, just as their friendship would continue to grow stronger.