To my younger sister "Tatiya", whose love for dogs goes far beyond human compassion
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Tanya was celebrating her 27th birthday with her best friends at a neighbourhood cafe in Bangalore. She sipped her iced tea as her favourite band, "The Sunny Nachos", played in the background. It was a perfect day - accompanied by her close-knit circle of friends. Everybody was drawn into a dreamy haze by the peppy music.
As everyone else raised their glasses to toast the friendship, laughter filled the air. Everything was ideal: the music, the company, the ambiance.
Suddenly, a memory from the teenage years resurfaced. She remembered how her mother used to tell her, "Kids, have your dinner; I’ll eat a bit later." Later, Tanya learned that her mother had been skipping dinner for years to ensure her children were fed. This thought still brought tears to her eyes.
Growing up, she didn’t choose engineering out of passion but necessity. Poverty left a deep mark on her. This motivated her to uplift her family out of it. She aimed for a high-paying job and secure a future for her mother and younger brother. After years of hard work, she saved enough to buy an apartment for her mother. It felt like she had fulfilled her destiny!
Sensing a flicker of weariness on her face, Sonya asked. "What’s wrong, dude? You look like you are lost."
Tanya opened up, "I feel that I’ve done what I needed to do - but something still feels missing. I’ve always been fascinated by filmmaking, but now I wonder …am I too old to start?"
Everyone exclaimed at once. "What do you mean?"
Tanya said, "Sonya, you are passionate about having an art studio; Jan, you’ve always loved acting; Jana, you wanted to be a chemical engineer. I’ve always wanted to make movies!"
Sonya exclaimed, "It's never too late!"
Tanya smiled. "Well, thanks for the motivation."
For the rest of the night, she decided to keep things light and enjoy "The sunny nachos".
The next morning was cold and breezy. Tanya began looking through photos and videos she had taken over the years. Her desire to learn filmmaking intensified. This is it, she thought! She began researching courses and enrolled in one.
A month later, her film course began. Amidst a job that was slowly losing its appeal, she looked forward to the class each week. It was her therapy, a space where her ideas came to life. After completing the course, she took a leap and applied for filmmaking jobs. After numerous rejections, she finally received a call from a production company. She was ecstatic!
The day of the interview arrived, Tanya wore her best dress and lucky shoes. After the standard questions and a review of her work, the interviewer said, "Your films are like poetry - but something is missing!"
Tanya asked, "What is it?"
The interviewer replied, "An uninterrupted flow - so the audience can truly feel the emotions you want to convey."
Tanya responded, "Thank you. I would love to learn more, if given the chance!"
Impressed by her enthusiasm, the interviewer said, "We’d like to offer you a one-year internship, with the possibility of full-time role afterwards."
It was a pivotal moment! Should she continue with her stable job or take a big risk?
Ultimately, she decided to follow her heart, quit her job, and became an intern!
The internship was intense but fulfilling. She learned the art of filmmaking from experts. Over the year, she worked on a range of assignments. An entire year felt like a single breath.
On the final day, she asked her supervisor, "So, what do you think? When should I start full-time?"
Her supervisor replied "I'm sorry, Tanya. The media recession has hit us hard. We can't afford to hire anyone right now. It's a shame to lose someone with such passion and talent."
Heartbroken, she returned to her apartment. She decided to take a few days off.
One evening, while going to watch the sunset at a nearby lake, she packed a small picnic. There, she noticed a dog sitting quietly. He looked hungry and sick. She offered him her sandwich, but he couldn't move. But his eyes pleaded for help.
Slowly, she approached. He took a small bite, pulled his ears back, and limped closer.But his left front leg was injured. Finally, he lay down in her lap. As she gently petted him, her sorrow disappeared, for the moment.
Determined to help, she took him to a nearby veterinary hospital. They agreed to treat him and keep him until he is recovered.
That night, as she laid down in her bed, she couldn't stop thinking about the dog. The next day, she brought him food. Though still weak, he ate quietly. This continued for a week. At the end of the week, he finally barked, "Woof, woof!" and wagged his tail.
She named him Charlie and took him home.
However, Charlie's life hadn't always been like this.
Once, he lived a pampered life with a wealthy couple in the suburbs. He was showered with love, attention and long walks in the lush greenery. After his owner’s death, he was rescued, and adopted by Ravi and Jane. But with their busy schedules, Charlie's world was reduced to the balcony and a single evening walk.
Eventually, Charlie became depressed with his new lifestyle and broke free during a walk and ran away. Though the owners searched, Charlie was gone.
After that, he struggled to survive. Every meal was a fight, and agressive street dogs ruled the road, until he met Tanya.
Their bond deepened. Charlie became a source of motivation, laughter, and joy for her. One day, while filming herself, Charlie interrupted and jumped into the video. She started filming their life together - in the park, breakfast, walks, and fetch games.
One evening, as she reviewed the footage, she decided to create a short film using everything she had learned. She uploaded the video to YouTube.
To her surpise, it went viral.
People connected with Charlie’s charm and their everyday joy. The channel grew rapidly. Sponsors, collaborations, and new ideas soon followed.
But with fame came complications.
Charlie's former owners, Ravi and Jane, now wanted him back. Driven by greed, they came to Tanya with the adoption papers.
Tanya opened the door and said, "Hello!"
Ravi said, "As the rightful owners of Jack - Charlie's real name - we're here to take him with us,” as he handed over the adoption documents to her.
Tanya didn't want to part with Charlie.
But legally, the dog belonged to Ravi and Jane. So, with police assistance, they took Charlie away.
Tanya shook as she watched him leave. But this time, she decided to go to court to fight to bring back Charlie.
Three months later, the hearing began.
Ravi’s lawyer argued that Tanya unlawfully kept the dog and demanded compensation.
Tanya cried “I found him in a terrible condition- sick and scared. He wouldn’t have survived if I hadn’t helped. We have been there for each other, since then. He means the world to me.”
As the proceeding continued, a neighbour testified that Charlie was often chained and left alone. Further, there was veterinary evidence of neglect, too.
In the end, the judge ruled said “Although Ravi and Jane legally adopted Charlie, they failed to meet his basic needs. Therefore, I rule in Tanya's favour, effective immediately.”
Charlie jumped into Tanya's lap and began licking her face- a moment of joy and reunion.
When Tanya first picked up the camera, she never imagined telling stories about her life with a dog. She had faced challenges and heartbreak, but she kept going, following her passion.
Sometimes, life has its own grand script. And while the journey may be full of twists and turns, in the end - everything works out.40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhP7kLIWHM
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