'We shouldn't have left Raja to take care of the house,' she said. 'He's not old enough.'
'No, I'm sure Raja is big enough and brave enough,' he replied.
'I am not sure,' she said. 'We should have at least asked your cousin Rakesh to come over and take care of house and Raja.'
*****
Raja was kidnapped as a child from his parents and was sold to a family. The family never treated him well. They were disappointed with him for some reason he didn't know. He knew that it was something done by the one who sold him as they kept scolding the guy. Raja eventually ran away from the family.
The Sharmas were very good people. Having no children of their own they lived a very lonely life. They found Raja wandering around the streets and brought him home. He was very weak and was suffering from severe infections when they brought him in.
Mr. Sharma, being a doctor himself treated Raja. The Sharmas hoped that someone would come looking for Raja. They adopted Raja a month later.
*****
'Raja,' Mr. Sharma said, 'Mom and I are going to attend a marriage, and we will be back tomorrow morning.'
Raja woke up to a sound. He was sure the sound wasn't from his dream. He was certain that he heard a thud. He sat patiently on his bed waiting for further sounds.
After a few moments just as he began questioning his ears, he heard a faint rustle of leaves. He saw a figure move slowly through the shadows towards the kitchen door.
He didn't know what to do. He was frightened of strangers from his childhood and now he felt he was about to get a heart attack. He got out of his bed and walked towards the kitchen. But he was too late as the door clicked open and a figure emerged in.
The thief couldn't see Raja in the darkness. He moved past Raja and Raja silently followed the thief into the hall.
Very little light was coming into the house through the window at the far end of the hall. Raja could see the thief searching for something in his bag.
The thief dropped his bag on the floor and pulled out a torch. He could see many valuable things in the room; a wall clock, glassware, decorative items. He was disappointed at not finding the huge TV everyone talked about. With a desire to see it he began scanning the room.
Raja was in two minds whether to go out and call for help or to confront the thief. He wanted to go out but just then the light from torch fell on him.
The thief stood frozen as he saw Raja at the receiving end of the light. His legs trembled at the sight of a huge Doberman.
Raja's legs began to tremble as well. He could see nothing as the light from torch was blinding him.
Neither of them had courage to move. After making a plan, the thief slowly took a few steps but stopped as Raja began barking violently.
Raja was scared as the thief started moving forward. He wanted to run away but he couldn't let the thief achieve his purpose. So he stood his ground and began shouting for help.
'There's a thief, someone please help. Please call the police.'
The thief pulled out an extendable stick in his self defence. He knew that the stick wouldn't stop the dog but he no longer wanted to rob the house. Getting out alive was his priority.
Raja was terrified at the sight of the stick and began shouting violently. 'Oh no! He pulled out a stick to beat me. Please save me.'
The thief slowly cornered Raja and dashed out of the house leaving his bag behind. Raja was happy at the sight of the thief running away.
*****
'Why didn't Raja attack the thief doctor?' Mr Khurana, his neighbour asked. 'Doberman generally is ferocious and attacks. Right!?'
'Well Mr Khurana, Raja is not a pure Doberman though he looks like one. His physical characteristics are from the Doberman parent and the mental characteristics are from the non-Doberman parent.'
