In the forested slopes of the Indian Himalaya, where stray dogs and wild creatures live secret lives alongside the residents of Landour, a tormented stray called Pretty appears at Lalitha’s doorstep. What begins as an attempt to train Pretty—to better her chances of finding a home—soon turns into something entirely unexpected.

As a freshly qualified dog trainer, Lalitha sets out with a plan. But Pretty has one of her own. With quiet intelligence and a spirit of Ubuntu—I am because we are—Pretty slowly reels Lalitha into her world. First, she brings her pup. Then, she introduces the pack. Before long, Lalitha finds herself feeding, training, and caring for a growing family of multilingual, free-ranging dogs—each one with a story, each one reshaping her understanding of love, resilience, and survival.

But just as Pretty had once arrived unannounced, one day, she vanishes—leaving her pup behind.

Was that her plan all...