I find inspiration in sharing the story of unconditional love I experienced from my cat. I miss him and pray for meeting again. This is the story of my Cheshire cat and the transformative year we shared.

On a quiet afternoon in the summer of 2021, I heard kittens meowing in my store on the terrace. A stray cat chose to give birth to six kittens and she took them to a neighbouring building when I watched her do this, in my heart, I wished to have the last one she was carrying. And this was their routine to sleep at night in the store and leave in the morning but that little bundle of joy was so innocent that he was unable to cross the wall and call his mother when stuck. She would come and carry him in her mouth from one wall to another. This continued and that little guy seemed stubborn to not learn from her mother and be left behind and find his own way. For a cat, he was way too intelligent but more innocent which made him vulnerable. Well, that’s him and I was on the other hand battling to find reasons to love. I found myself at a crossroads in life as living with burdens of relationships which I never invited was becoming heavier. Life had always been uncertain and a struggle to survive as been portrayed by those around me, but like always I was beaten but not broken. Little did I know that this little smarty pants would one day come to my door all injured and make me melt, he had his front right foot injured and was crying in pain and help. I let him in for my papa would have shooed him away. He stayed all night I offered him milk and biscuits under my bed. In the morning when I tried to shoo him he pooped and was very afraid of leaving. So I let him be and cleaned the room. I let the door open and then didn’t find him there in the evening. But since I talked to him all night he felt comfortable having trust that I wouldn’t hurt and he began to visit me and stay under my bed. It became a routine to play with him and keep his bowl of milk and biscuits outside my door. We soon became friends. I called him Mau. I didn’t get the chance to sustain my true friendships, after a very long time I felt like having someone who would jump for me without thinking twice as would I.

Chapter 1: A Mysterious Connection

Mau used to perch on my doorfront. His brilliant, earthy-brown eyes stared into mine with an otherworldly intelligence. There was something oddly familiar about him, as though it had been waiting for me all along.

Chapter 2: The Silent Observer

We became silent observers of each other’s life. He would appear in unexpected places, always with that same knowing look in his eyes. I began to feel that he was trying to tell me something, something important that I couldn’t quite grasp. He became my constant companion as I fought my father to let him be (or let me be).

Chapter 3: The Ups and Downs

Those winters were a rollercoaster ride. There were moments of joy and happiness, like when I finally convinced my father to invest in a business. I was busy with preparation to start a cloud kitchen business and we were unable to find time to meet. He visited me always as I found the food I had kept for him finished. He was struggling to survive his community of cats where a bully started to fight him and take his food. I had fights with almost everyone as they were trying to be disrespectful. Through it all, Mau remained a steadfast presence.

Chapter 4: Learning to Embrace Uncertainty

As the seasons changed, I realized that the Cheshire cat was teaching me a valuable lesson: the art of embracing uncertainty. There were days when I didn’t wanted to come out of my room, but he came and played and made me to go and get his food. He never offered me direct answers or solutions, but rather, he encouraged me to trust my instincts and navigate the labyrinth of life with courage and curiosity.

Chapter 5: Finding Reasons to Love

During my darkest moments, when I struggled to find reasons to love, Mau would appear, a reminder that love exists in unexpected places. It could be in the laughter of a child, the warmth of a cup of tea on a cold evening, or the beauty of a sunrise. Mau’s presence became a catalyst for me to seek out these small moments of joy. I ignored the situation I was in and seeked these moments of joy by visiting J.K. Temple where I always find peace.

Chapter 6: Never-ending Journey

The business I birthed was taken over by my papa and cousin by disregarding my presence and while I was struggling to exist Mau came to me drained in gutter, shivering, and crying. It made me cry to see him like that I tried to clean him but he was so afraid that he was not allowing me to wash him and he ran into the neighbouring building. I felt very lost for not being able to help him. And after a few days, he came but he was very weak in cleaning himself. I started to detach from him as people around me started using him to misbehave with me by hurting him and saying things to him as I had attachments to him. As the year came to a close, the Cheshire cat gradually made fewer appearances. I had grown, learned, and found my way forward. It was as though the cat had fulfilled its purpose, guiding me through a tumultuous year and helping me discover the strength within myself.

Chapter 7: A Parting Gift

I wanted to leave everything and move away as it could not take the toxic behaviour of people around me. I got the opportunity to work in Delhi, so I decided to leave everyone behind and move forward. I went to Delhi on 9th April 2022 forever. Exactly a year after I had met him, in the summer of June, just as it had arrived, my Cheshire cat disappeared from my life. My sister buried him after finding him resting on the road in front of my home injured by dogs. It left behind a single, cryptic message: a grin that lingered in the air. Though it was gone, its presence remained etched in my heart.

Chapter 8: Reflecting on the Journey

Looking back on that transformative year, I realized that the Cheshire cat had shown me that the path forward is often obscured, and the answers we seek may be shrouded in mystery. But by embracing uncertainty, finding reasons to love, and trusting in ourselves, we can navigate life’s challenges with resilience and grace.

Chapter 9: The Cheshire Cat’s Legacy

The Cheshire cat may have vanished from my life, but its legacy lives on. It taught me the importance of resilience, curiosity, and the enduring power of love, even in the face of adversity. It was a year of ups and downs, but through it all, the Cheshire cat showed me the way forward without seeking anything in return.

Chapter 10: Grateful for the Enigma

I’m grateful for my enigmatic Cheshire cat that entered my life when I needed it the most. It reminded me that life’s journey is a mysterious and beautiful adventure, filled with ups and downs, but always worth embracing. As I move forward, I carry the lessons of that year with me, cherishing the memories of my silent companion and the wisdom it imparted.

“Mau may be a creature of whimsy and riddles, but he left an indelible mark on my heart, guiding me through a year of challenges and ultimately helping me find the reasons to love life once again.” ~ MutePen

This is the story of my Cheshire cat and the transformative year we shared.

Majestic Mau

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there." ~ Lewis Caroll