Reema was on her way home after a grueling day at work and all she longed for was a quiet dinner along with some much-needed sleep. She unlocked the door to her cosy apartment, which she shared with her sister Sanjana, and sighed with relief at the thought of finally being able to unwind.
But as she stepped inside, her exhaustion was met with a sight that jolted her—a tiny kitten lay curled up on Sanjana’s lap. Reema froze, her heart sinking. There was nothing she despised more than cats—those unpredictable creatures that leaped, scratched and disrupted all sense of order.
“Sanju, what the hell?” Reema exclaimed, her voice sharp. “Get that cat out of here now!”
Sanjana looked up with pleading eyes. “Please, Reema, I found her on the street below. She was all alone. She’s so tiny, where will she go? I promise I’ll find her a home soon. Just give me two days. I’m keeping her in my room, away from you,” Sanjana said. Reema reluctantly agreed as she had no solution for this predicament.
But the next two days were a test of Reema’s patience and nerves. She tiptoed around her own home, half-expecting the kitten, whom Sanjana had named Lily, to pounce on her at any moment. Every rustle or movement made her jump.
A week passed and despite Sanjana’s efforts, there were still no takers for Lily. She spent evenings making calls to friends and scouring adoption websites for any leads. One evening, as she was leaving a message with a friend, her phone buzzed with an unexpected call.
It was her boss from work, asking her to pull a night shift due to an urgent project. With a heavy heart, she called Reema. “I’m really sorry to ask, but could you please feed Lily tonight? I have to stay late at work. I promise I’ll try and get back as soon as I can,” her sister explained.
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