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.

“Thakurmoshai, only 4 minutes are left. Read the Shaktirupena mantra and do three pushpanjali at once and get over with the puja,” instructed Joy Uncle. He has not been able to sleep for the past seven days. The Bengali community in the area is calling him for the details of the Durga Puja at 3 am. The arrangements of the puja essentials are something that is not allowing him to sleep properly.

I was walking down the street wearing a black hoodie made of fur with my hands inside the pocket. I don’t know why I walked the same path...