Ria, Rima, Rishab, Royal, Rishan. Rajib Roy has five children out of which one — Royal — has four legs.

The playful Labrador came into the family three years ago when the other kids had started pleading for a dog. “They were even ready to forgo their birthday and Puja gifts in lieu of a puppy,” says Rajib.

“My parents and wife Indira were dead against the idea but the kids divided the responsibilities of looking after the pup and gave it to them in writing.”

Shortly after the puppy came, of course, came the kids’ exams and now it’s their dad who does all the cleaning and feeding but he’s not complaining.

A year after Royal came, Rishan was born. “We were apprehensive about how he would react and kept him away from the baby for about a month,” says Rajib.

The day Royal was let loose he ran to the baby. “He didn’t look, didn’t sniff; simply planted a kiss on his cheek!” says the surprised father.

And now Rishan sits on his tricycle holding a rope that Royal pulls around the terrace with his teeth, quite like Santa and his reindeer.

The Lab is protective of his siblings and will not Rajib scold them at any cost. “Once Rishan, who’s still a toddler, was approaching a bucket with an immersion rod heating it up. Royal pounced and stopped him. He averted a terrible accident.”

Royal prepares to dive off the water scooter and into the inflatable pool on the terrace of their AC Block house. Rajib and son Rishab look on Sourced by the correspondent

Since Royal loves playing in water, they’ve got an inflatable swimming pool stitched for him. “It’s 20ft long, 3ft deep and the whole family can jump in to play with him,” Rajib smiles. “We’ve made a bathtub for him too.”

Besides the fun and games, Royal has a high emotional quotient. “He knows exactly when I’m down and will come console me. And when I’m happy he’ll play. In November, I was hospitalised with Covid and he was so upset. No amount of speaking to him over the phone could cheer him up,” recalls Rajib.

Royal is a religious dog. He rises with Rajib 96 minutes before sunrise at brahmamuhurta everyday, and patiently sits outside the prayer room, listening to him chant.

Another curious habit is for Royal to sit touching his family members. “So if all of us are in the living room together he’ll come sit in the middle and touch some of us with paws and yet another with face,” smiles Rajib.

It’s a large family but Royal has a large heart with space for everyone.