“Growing up, I always had a lot of health issues that got in the way of my happiness. I knew that the only thing that could help me was to keep myself busy and distracted. Having grown up with my grandparents, I watched my grandma bake all the time. She would bake these pretty cakes for me to take to school, and they’re some of my favourite memories! To be honest, when I baked a cake by myself for the first time, even my dogs wouldn’t eat it. I can’t blame them though, I will admit it was pretty bad!

In 2014, I decided to teach myself how to bake for real, and things took off from there! By 2016, I had started my own business on social media, and in 2018, I began my venture in baking desserts for dogs. There was such a dire need in Hyderabad for somebody to educate people on the safety of desserts for dogs, it almost felt like it was a responsibility. It was also important for me to put that money towards a good cause, so I would contribute a share of my earnings to female sanitation products for mentally challenged women in rural areas. As someone who has had a dependence on people all my life due to my health problems, I could absolutely empathize with their dependence on others for help to do things that would seem extremely normal to anybody not suffering from their conditions.

As I said, I always needed to keep myself preoccupied, and the baking just wasn’t enough back in 2014. I saw a commercial for a shooting summer camp. Initially, my dad was pretty hesitant because of how male dominated the field is, but I managed to convince him. Within the first two days, all the coaches noticed how naturally it came to me, and in 2017, I made it to state level. I won a gold and a bronze by 2018, and also qualified for nationals! I think my proudest moment was in 2017 when I earned the Renowned Shooter title.

I was in college at the time, so every weekend I’d come home to hours of target practice, and hours of baking orders! But you gotta do what you gotta do to keep yourself busy, that’s what I believe. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made since I entered both fields. I know they’re literally on opposite ends of the spectrum, but that’s what makes it all the more interesting for me! I wouldn’t have it any other way!”