I never thought that I would choose to write on a topic for which I had endless sleepless nights, endless tears, and endless worries with constant health issues. For me, the greatest rock bottom is being unhappy with my professional life, or you could say the “corporate majdoor." Success taught me the value of things. Failure taught me resilience, strength, determination, and most importantly, why I deserve a good life at the end of the day.

I have been a pet owner since 2011, and I have no intention of turning back as an animal lover. My mother and I had worked selflessly for the innumerable dogs and cats, including the pets and the strays. In this recollection of memories, I will only write about my first pet, Chiki, and her family. This story was initially published in the “Our Pets and Us” anthology and today, I am publishing it with some modifications and additions along the way.

“Don’t be shy. Have some food, water and enjoy,” said one of them. It has been a year. I never knew anyone’s name except a few. The people in the pandal knew me but not my name. I am referred to as the “Baccha Meye (little girl)” who is always offered food packets and checked upon every time I leave for the office in the morning and return home in the evening.

The child inside the cocoon Being a writer was never my choice, but I became a writer by chance. It is always something I repeat over and...