2020. The pandemic had put the world into quarantine. the confinement had left me feeling mentally and physically sluggish. When the restrictions eased, I made a decision to embark on a walking expedition across India. At first, my mother was hesitant and worried that I might transform into a Yogi or wander aimlessly, but eventually, she came around to the idea.
It was in January 2021 in Rajasthan that my path crossed with a stray pup. Her mother was absent and I took it upon myself to feed and care for her. It was that moment, she adopted me as her own. In doing so, I fell in love with her, and the bond between us grew. I named her Butter.
Initially, I left her with my parents. But Butter started missing me and would go without eating food. Thats when my mother suggested that I take Butter along with me. I took her on a trail walk of about 100kms. Thats when I discovered that Butter possessed remarkable strength & patience.
November 2022, we started walking and we haven’t looked back. She has been the best companion – non judgemental & a good listener. What’s more, she shares my love for music. On each walk, I choose a different musical instrument to explore its sounds, a therapeutic experience for both of us, as she responds to the tunes I play.
Everyday is an adventure, from living by the river to being welcomed into the homes of strangers, and sleeping under the stars. We’ve had our share of challenges like being turned down because the hotels had no pet policy to Butter surviving an attack by stray dogs that led to losing her tail. But despite this, we walk on.
Butter & I, both love our country. Every 25 kilometres, we encounter changes. The dialect shifts, the weather transforms, the landscapes and people evolve. Cuisines vary, and even the deities change. A remarkable journey through a land that never ceases to amaze. And I’m glad my travel buddy & I are making the most of it.
