If you’ve seen Money Heist on Netflix, you’re familiar with Rio, the charming young dacoit who robs the Royal Mint of Spain. Well, Purbachal has its own Rio and this guy steals socks.
“No one in our house has a single pair without holes in it. Rio steals them and tears them up,” laughs Sloka Mukherjee, Rio’s 10- year-old “big sister”. “He does the same with hankies.”
Rio was named by Sloka’s mother Shruti, who was a fan of the web series. But despite his Spanish name, the Beagle is as Bengali as can be. “He loves ilish machh and rosogolla, though we give him very little of the latter,” says Sloka. “But if ilish is getting cooked, he follows the scent to the kitchen, settles down there and smacks his lips till he’s served a helping.”
Rio had come into the family two years ago, on August 1, and that’s the date that is celebrated as his birthday. “But this year my exams are on and so the birthday party will happen in September,” says Sloka, almost laughing at what happens at these gatherings.
“One of my friends is scared of Rio. She jumps up on a chair and starts screaming whenever she sees him, even when all Rio wants is to make friends. When cutting the cake, I have to hold him tight so this friend steps down from the chair and joins us in singing Happy Birthday.”
Before Rio, Sloka had a Goldfish and Budgerigars. “But it’s great to have a dog. Rio is playful and sensitive and understands people more than other animals. If ever I fall sick he sits next to me throughout without being mischievous at all,” she says.
Sloka is hoping Rio is mated some day so she can keep his puppies. “I want Rio, four of his pups, fish and birds. What a fun-filled house that would be!” she exclaims gleefully.
The Mukherjees live on the ground floor and Rio excuses himself to the back yard to answer nature’s call. “He’s obedient and comes right back in but initially he was restless. He would run out if ever the door was left open. Once I was so scared upon seem him bolt that I gave chase without realising I didn’t even have slippers on!”
Sloka calls Rio her little brother and Rio probably calls Sloka his everything. “You should see what he does when I return from school,” says the girl. “He gets so happy he cannot decide how to greet me and ends up running around the table.”
