When a dog walks into a bar, it’s not a joke anymore

On a warm Dec evening in Goa, Akira sits alert beside a bar table, watching her human lift a glass of wine as music and conversation hum around them. When Sukruti Gandham, a 33-year-old digital marketing specialist, pours herself a drink, Akira gets her own small share.

“She’s a small dog, about 5 kg, so I’m careful with the quantity. Moderation is key,” says Gandham, like a parent gently introducing a teenager to a social ritual.