It was Diwali. Preparations were being made to spend Diwali with the in laws in Chennai. There was one small hitch. Jethro, my four legged prince had just traipsed into our lives, taken over it completely and the dad was the only one who had his wits about him around the lad. The rest of us were smitten and his willing slaves. The hunt was on for a kennel to house the lad for a couple of days. Of course no kennel was good enough for my prince – too small, too dirty, “man running it doesn’t look the kind sort”. It was a tense household, divorce looked imminent and then the light bulb moment. The boys went ahead to Chennai and Jethro and I had a solitary Diwali – he spent it waiting by the door for the boys to return or on my lap when the crackers went off and I watched all my crime shows uninterrupted by football matches! The icing on the cake – delicious bakshanam and this beautiful cotton silk saree as gifts from the in laws This saree is the quintessence of the story of my life or for that matter any woman’s – family, sacrifice, love and the fierce belief that only the best is good enough for the loved ones!!! – we have since found a wonderful kennel for Mr Jethro in lonavla and have gone on a few vacations since!