Letter to Peppa and Demi

Rescuing Peppa and Demi filled my heart, teaching me love, trust, and unexpected family joy

- Monish Dinesh Visaria

For as long as I can remember, a part of my heart ached for something I was told I could never have: a cat.

Being Jains, cats needed a non-veg diet, thus it was a strict no-no. My family’s rules were firm, and while I understood, the longing for a feline companion never faded. I would watch other cats from afar, a silent observer of their grace and independence, and a part of me always felt a little incomplete.

I still remember that night, the night air, usually crisp and clear, was thick with the scent of marigolds and the haze of firecrackers. It was the first day of Diwali, and the entire neighborhood was aglow. Every house was a constellation of flickering diyas, and the sky above was a canvas of explosive colors. My own home was no different; the warmth of the celebrations seeped through the windows, and I went to feed community cats and celebrate Diwali with them. I suddenly heard a faint, trembling sound, a whimper lost in the celebratory cacophony. I stopped, straining my ears, my heart thumping a little faster. It sounded so fragile, so terrified.