Salaam & Greeting

Q: Can one greet one's animals/pets in the Islamic greeting and also communicate the way he would with a muslim eg. Alhamdulillah, As salaam mu alykum etc.?

Q: Is it sunnah to make musafaha when greeting another person? Is musafaha with 1 hand or 2?

Q: My non-muslim friends say "Assalamalaikum wa...." sometimes, what should I say? They ask me why dont you say "Jai Shri Ram" as we say salaam?

Q:

1. Is it permissible to greet with words: good morning?

2. Is it permissible to greet with words Hello?

3. Is it permissible to greet with words sawubona or molo?

Q: I work with non-Muslims so the following situations arise:

1. How should I greet them because if I do not greet them then they feel offended?

2. When they say seasons greetings or compliments of the season at December time, how should I reply?

Q: I know that interacting with a non-mahram without any reason is not allowed. But I want to ask that when I was a child I used to make salaam to my neighbouring aunties, but now I'm 18 and I feel hesitant doing so. What should I do? Guide me.

س: ما حكم رد جواب الكتاب لم يتضمن سلاما؟

Q: What is the ruling regarding saying "Khuda Haafiz" when departing from a meeting? I know that it is best to say "Assalamu Alaykum", but since "Khuda Haafiz" also has a good meaning, would it at least be better than saying "Goodbye"?

Q: When a non muslim greets a muslim with salaam, how should he reply?

Q: please explain why we greet a single person by saying "Aslamu Alaikum not Alaika or Alaki" violating grammatical rules?