December 29. “Button, I saw a beautiful sight on my way to the club this evening—

a stray, who looked very much like Rani but thinner, lay sprawled on her back and was taking a roll in the dust at the corner of the street. She was either taking a dust bath or scratching herself but she looked so cheerful and happy that I turned back to look at her.”

“Some of us derive pleasure from doing small and simple things.”

“Have you seen street urchins playing with cheap stuff they pick up from dustbins? They don’t have expensive toys and, yet, they are so happy playing with whatever they find.”

“Happiness is a state of mind. You either welcome happiness despite life’s odds or you are a cribber who doesn’t want to give happiness a chance!

“By the way, I’ll clean you up tomorrow. There’s dust on your nose and inside your ears and all over you.”

“You don’t like me dirty—do you?”

“It’s not like that but you need a thorough cleaning.”