In 2009, her short story "Swallow" was nominated for the Pushcart Prize and was listed in 2009 Best American New Voices collection.
[2][3] Avasthi moved from India to Albuquerque, where she studied till the age of 18 and her desire was to become a fiction writer.
For three years she worked for the Pro Bono Advocates in Cook County in the role of a paralegal and coordinator in the domestic violence clinic.
She provided legal assistance in the civil court to abuse victims seeking emergency orders.
Shortly after, Avasthi gave birth to her first child, and took a leave of absence from law school to raise him.