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The months rolled on and Bruno had grown many times the size he was
when he came. He had equalled the Alsatians in height and had even
outgrown them. But was just as sweet, just as mischievous, and just as
playful. And he was very fond of us all. Above all, he loved my wife, and
she loved him too! She had changed his name from Bruno, to Baba, a
Hindustani word signifying „small boy‟. And he could do a few tricks, too.
At the command, „Baba, wrestle‟, or „Baba, box,‟ he vigorously tackled
anyone who came forward for a rough and tumble. Give him a stick and
say „Baba, hold gun‟, and he pointed the stick at you. Ask him, „Baba,
where‟s baby?‟ and he immediately produced and cradled affectionately
a stump of wood which he had carefully concealed in his straw bed. But
because of the tenants‟ children, poor Bruno, or Baba, had to be kept
chained most of the time.

Concealed: hidden

As the days passed, Bruno grew bigger and outgrew the Alsatian dogs.
Still, it was sweet, naughty and playful like before. He was fond of
everyone. The narrator’s wife was much attached to Bruno and vice
versa. She changed his name to ‘Baba’ which means a small boy in
Hindustani language. Baba did some tricks - when he was ordered
‘Baba wrestle’ or ‘Baba box’, he would wrestle the person and
overpower him. When commanded ‘Baba, hold gun’ he would point a
stick at the person, as if ready to shoot him. When asked ‘Baba, where’s
baby?’ he would take out a piece of wood and cradle it affectionately like
a baby. He had hidden the piece of wood under the straw bed. As he
had grown big, he was chained because he could be a threat to the
tenant’s children.

Then my son and I advised my wife, and friends advised her too, to give
Baba to the zoo at Mysore. He was getting too big to keep at home.
After some weeks of such advice she at last consented. Hastily, and
before she could change her mind, a letter was written to the curator of
the zoo. Did he want a tame bear for his collection? He replied, “Yes”.
The zoo sent a cage from Mysore in a lorry, a distance of eighty-seven
miles, and Baba was packed off.

curator: here, a person in charge of the zoo

The narrator and his son advised to send Baba to the zoo. When his
wife was advised so by the friends too, she agreed and a letter was
written to the zoo in-charge to inquire if he would like to keep a bear at
the zoo. He affirmed and then, Baba was sent to Mysore zoo, packed in