From cold winters of Kyiv to breezy Munnar: Zaira loves it here in Kerala

MUNNAR: She is no longer the old Zaira who came home with Arya to escape the ravaging war in Ukraine. The Siberian Husky, over the last three years, has completed the makeover into an ideal Malayali pet dog. Although the temperature may not be as chilling as in Ukraine, Zaira doesn’t have any complaints with the climate in Munnar. The only sadness remains Arya’s absence. It has been two and a half years since Arya went back to Ukraine for further studies. Arya's mother, Kochu Rani and father, Aldrin, are taking care of Zaira.

Zaira, who was only six months old when she arrived in Munnar, is now four. Whenever Arya makes a video call, the sounds of Zaira wagging her tail frenetically will fill the room. Arya, who came home for a 15-day vacation, went back last month.

Arya, an MBBS student at the Venice National Pirgov Medical University in Kyiv, will complete her course in July. Three months before the Ukraine-Russia war broke out in 2022, a senior student gave Arya a Siberian Husky puppy. When she was told to leave the country, she and Zaira decided to fly back to India from Ukraine to the Romanian border.

Arya took Zaira in a vehicle from Ukraine and headed to the border. Everyone was dropped 12 kilometres away. Then, the authorities reminded that pets won't be allowed. It didn’t take long for Arya to tell them that she prefers not travel without Zaira. Understanding Arya's love for the puppy, Indian officials informed the central government. Knowing that Zaira was hindering Arya's further journey, the Central Animal Husbandry Department issued an order!

'There is no obstacle for those who have escaped from the war and are returning to their homeland to bring their pets.' Thus, Arya and Zaira reached Delhi by plane from Romania. They got a seat on an Air Asia flight from Delhi, but pets were not allowed. Two days later, Zaira got a separate ticket and returned home on an Air India flight.