Jinni was hit by a car at a very busy intersection at about three months. Her hind leg was broken and hip dislocated. A local rescue organization informed me that it was unlikely that she would survive given her age and health. So I took her home to die in comfort. Jinni survived -- through three fractures, severe kennel cough, diarrhea and many infections. I could not see how I could keep her permanently since I lived on the 7th floor and kept long work hours. I tried my best to reintroduce her to the street so that she could stay out all day and I could take her into my little apartment for the night when I returned from work. However, she was a determined little thing who would evade the building guard and dash into the elevator and scratch the doors of apartments on whichever floor the elevator stopped at. Every evening, she would wait in my parking for me to return from work and howl with delight when I appeared. She would then go home for the night with me. But she hated being left out and eventually, I just kept her. That was 11 years ago. It has not been easy for both of us but she is very much family. Jinni now reigns over my bigger apartment. Every morning, she races to the verandah when I leave for work so that she can catch a last glimpse of me. She assumes we all will fall backwards to please her (which we do!). She is the first at the door to check out visitors and does the whole wriggly delight thing when my family and friends visit - I suspect a few friends drop in just to get the Jinni treatment!

Preeti Singh
Delhi, India