I had always wanted a pet of my own. My friend Nikhil had a parrot, and Irfan had a cat. Subbu had a tortoise. I was the only one who did not have a pet. I wanted a small pet dog I could cuddle. I wanted to play with it and take it for walks. I knew I would take good care of it. 

A few days before my tenth birthday, Mummy asked me what I wanted. I said I wanted a dog. But Mummy shook her head and said that she would get me some books.

On my birthday, I got up early in the morning. I saw a parcel on my table, wrapped in coloured paper. I knew that they were my books. But before I could open the parcel, I saw a box with big holes in it under the table. I opened the box. The most beautiful little puppy licked my hand. My parents said that the puppy was my real birthday present.

That was the happiest day of my life.