Rohan and Riya had been together for three years. Their relationship was sweet, and both worked in the same office, which made things easier. Rohan also shared a flat with his friend Vikram, though they worked for different companies. The third member of their household was Todo, their lively and loyal dog.

One evening, Rohan came home, slamming his bedroom door behind him before dropping onto the sofa, his face twisted with frustration. Vikram, who was sitting nearby, noticed his friend’s tense mood and asked, “What’s wrong, Rohan?”

Rohan, barely looking up, muttered, “Leave me alone for a while.”

Vikram wasn’t the type to let things go easily, though. “I’ll leave you alone,” he replied, “but if you’re so serious about being alone, maybe you should move out.”

Rohan looked at him, puzzled. “Why?”

“You said you wanted to be alone, right? Maybe you should go live by yourself,” Vikram answered calmly.

Todo barked from the corner, his tail wagging as he looked between the two friends. Rohan, still frustrated, snapped at the dog, “Todo, stop it!” Then, turning back to Vikram, he said, “I’m in a serious mood, Vikram. Don’t mess with me right now.”

But Vikram remained unfazed. “I’m not messing with you. If you’re that upset, maybe you need space. Pack your bags and go somewhere.”

Rohan sighed, feeling his irritation grow but realizing he wasn’t getting anywhere. He offered a half-hearted apology, but Todo’s barking continued, fueling his frustration. Vikram, sensing something deeper was at play, asked again, “What’s going on, Rohan? Why are you so upset?”

Rohan hesitated before finally admitting, “Riya broke up with me.”

Vikram, in his usual carefree manner, tried to lift the mood with humor. “Congrats, man! Now you can find a new girl!” But Rohan wasn’t in the mood for jokes.

“Stop it, Vikram,” he said sharply. “She broke up with me for no reason.”

As if sensing the tension, Todo barked once more, but this time, Rohan lost control. He picked up a nearby vase and hurled it in Todo’s direction, causing the poor dog to yelp and retreat.

Vikram’s expression turned serious. “That wasn’t right, Rohan. You can’t take your anger out on Todo like that.”

Rohan groaned, burying his face in his hands. “He’s been barking all day. He’s driving me crazy.”

Vikram leaned back, his voice calm. “Rohan, do you even remember why you bought Todo?”

“No,” Rohan muttered. He didn’t see why it mattered right now.

“We were walking in the park, remember?” Vikram began, reminding Rohan of a happier time. “You saw all those dogs playing with their owners, and you decided you wanted one too. You named him Todo. We’ve been taking care of him ever since.”

Rohan still wasn’t in the mood to reflect, but before he could respond, Todo barked again. This time, the dog pulled at his leash, drawing Vikram’s attention. Without hesitation, Vikram followed Todo into the kitchen. There, he noticed a pool of oil leaking from a bottle, heading straight toward the stove where a piece of cloth was dangerously close to catching fire.

Acting quickly, Vikram switched off the stove and cleaned up the mess, all while gently reassuring Todo, who had sensed the danger before anyone else. When Rohan saw what had almost happened, his anger evaporated, replaced by shame and regret. He realized how foolish he’d been to lash out at the one creature that had only ever shown him unconditional love.

Tears welled in Rohan’s eyes as he sank to the floor, overwhelmed by guilt. “I’m sorry, Vikram,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to take it out on Todo.”

Vikram knelt beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t cry, Rohan. Tears won’t change anything. A lot of people lash out at their pets when they’re upset because they think their pets can’t fight back. But that’s not fair. Todo didn’t deserve that.”

Rohan reached out to Todo, who licked his hand as if forgiving him instantly. The dog’s soft eyes seemed to mirror Rohan’s sorrow. Vikram continued, his voice gentle but firm. “Please don’t ever treat him like that again. People might hurt us, but pets? They stay loyal, no matter what.”

Rohan nodded, wiping away his tears. “I promise, Vikram. I won’t do it again.”

From that moment on, Rohan vowed to treat Todo with the kindness and care the dog had always shown him. He realized that, in the chaos of his emotions, he had almost lost sight of the one constant in his life. And with that realization came a new sense of appreciation for the small, loyal companion who had always been there, waiting to help—even if it was just with a bark.