ONE RAINY DAY

"It was pouring that night, accompanied by thunder and lightening. I heard the sound of feeble whimpering, right outside my kitchen window. Leaving the rice boiling on the stove, I took an umbrella and ventured out, disregarding the fact that I would have to explain to you grandfather about the wet saree”…Thakurma paused here to take a deep breath.

Being anxious to hear the rest of it, I urged her to continue “what did you see outside that you wanted nobody to know about”.

“It was pitch dark and all I could make out was repeated attempts of a furry creature trying to climb out of the overflowing drain running alongside the kitchen wall. I peered closer and what should I find? A lost kitten on the verge of drowning, willing to stay alive. Now, I know your grandfather is not an animal person, so I was in a dilemma where to hide this little creature in the house. Rubbing the furry ball down with a kitchen cloth, I spooned milk into his mouth, and made a little bed out of some kitchen rags, and placed an upturned wicker basket over him. Your grandfather never entered the kitchen so that was the safest hideout for my newly acquired pet”.

Thakurma had a mischievous look on her face going on to add that her new pet soon learnt to eat the fish bones she kept aside for ‘Gopal’ as she nicknamed him. Gopal grew up into a handsome boy, left home, to go into the wild. But like all cats returned everyday at lunch time waiting for the fish bones, which Thakurma left on a aluminium plate outside. And one day she got caught red handed by Grandfather and thought all hell would break loose. But was proved wrong.

“Your grandfather surprised me with bringing small fish from the market and when I remarked that we never ate that variety of fish, he answered with a straight face “it’s for your big fat Tom cat. Now you can make him fatter but teach him in return to catch the big rats destroying the grains stored in gunny bags”.

Thus Gopal was allowed formal entry into the house, treated as a special guest, and lay near your grandfather’s feet, purring with happiness.”

“One day he rewarded your grandfather with his prized catch; a malnourished “nekti eedur” with an expression of having brought back Tipu’s sword from the British Museum. To garner some praise for this victory, Gopal kept meowing till he was patted on the head:

Thakurma’s story flagged in my memory now finds an audience with my grandkids. I repeat the same story adding spice and making it more relevant to present times and they listen with rapt attention.