Kiara the Clever: Stray Animals

Kiara and friends learn that some things aren't always what they seem

Let’s hear an interesting tale about Kiara, a girl who was oh-so-clever.

In the sunny neighborhood where Kiara lived, filled with mango trees and the sweet scent of jasmine, there was a little lane where a kind but somewhat grumpy-looking older woman named Mrs. Sharma lived. Now, Mrs. Sharma had a garden bursting with colorful flowers, and sometimes, when stray cats or playful puppies wandered in, she would shoo them away with a wave of her hand and a little "Tsk, tsk."

Kiara, always observant, noticed this. One afternoon, she was playing cricket in the lane with her friends Rohan, Priya, and little Vikram. A fluffy ginger kitten scampered into Mrs. Sharma's garden, chasing a bright yellow butterfly. Mrs. Sharma came out, and even though she didn't yell, her face looked a bit stern as she gently guided the kitten back onto the lane.

"See?" Rohan whispered to Kiara. "Mrs. Sharma doesn't like animals."

Priya nodded. "She always looks cross when they go near her flowers."

Kiara, however, wasn…