From Brisbane to Bombay

A Staffordshire Bull Terrier from Australia pens down his journey, moving bag and baggage to Bombay, with his brother and parents.

-  Blitz Mellocastro-Antao

Here I am, sitting on the ledge of the balcony where my grandma, Anita lives, basking in the sun, staring from a height I’ve never been before. My name is Blitz. I’m an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, all white. I'm deaf, you know, but all my other senses are sharp. My parents, Rohan (dad) and Jess (mom), simply adore me. Do you know they fostered me despite my deafness or rather because I was deaf and on the way to being put down? How kind, caring and nurturing they are! I’m really the lucky one! And they didn’t want me to be only and lonely, so within less than a year, I had a companion, a brother....Pickles, a Staffordshire, too, but British if you please, all dark brown. He too, like me, is fostered, but from a couple parting ways. We, Pickles and I, get along splendidly, except when he suddenly disturbs me from deep sleep.

Returning to reminiscing, no one will believe, we've made the biggest move ever. Yes. From Australia to India - Brisbane to Bombay to be specific. Of course, it's not the first time we've moved. We moved from Sydney to Brisbane and what a joyous ride that was. We had mom and dad with us all the way and we made so many stops along the way - to pee, to stretch, to just enjoy the great outdoors. But this, this was different.

As soon as dad returned from meeting his family in Bombay, there was a charged atmosphere at home. Mom missed her family and friends in Bombay and dad had this brainwave of an idea. He was concerned about his mom and mom-in-law, both widows. We could return to India and keep wife and moms happy, gain some peace of mind. He could work remotely and visit Oz twice a year to meet his clients. It was definitely more economical to relocate. Dad would continue to work, that too on Oz time. In any case he was a workaholic but always makes time for us.