Tag: My Neighbour

Posted in Nature stories, My life

Hook, Line, Sinker

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

After years of being a dog person, I finally fell in love with a cat who broke my heart. (Check out my post My Neighbour: The Queen to find out about this drama.) Deciding that I didn’t want to be treated as an automatic scratch-post, I decided to never get anywhere close to anything feline.

That is why when my brother in law brought in another kitten to foster, I kept my distance and didn’t go anywhere near her for one very long night. The fact that my fingers itched to touch her was warning enough. But the next day, I had to run interference since she wasn’t eating or drinking anything.

I am not a kitten expert but this one is Tiny with a capital T. She is a little bigger than the size of my palm. The guy who gave her to us took her from the litter when she was less than a month. She is a month old now. It felt like the time I held my daughter for the first time. She was so delicate I was afraid to hurt her. One look from her doll-face and I fell. Hard.

Ever since then, I had been trying to keep my distance, all the while telling my brother-in-law to send her back to her mother (can’t happen since they are in another state) and check what to feed her before feeding it to her. Apparently, the guy who had gave her to us was feeding her Buffalo’s milk with chocolate syrup so that she would eat something since she wasn’t. And she can’t digest it. Now, this fostering between her supplier and next forever home feels like a rescue mission. My brother-in-law has consulted people who know kitty stuff and I’m hoping he has finally got it right.

Because if he hasn’t, I might not be able to deal with the loss.

All the while I have been avoiding her, she has been claiming a part of my heart. I have been visiting her on the pretext on accompanying my daughter. Everyone here knows I am bluffing but they have enough sense not to call me out. When I go, I watch her quietly as she plays with her ball. I sometimes push the ball around to draw her out to give her a chance to attack it. That’s the extent of it. But my eyes never leave her.

I think she prefers me that way.

Because yesterday, when I was sitting on the bed watching her eat, she quietly came to me and climbed on my leg into my lap and sat there. Just sat there. And ignored my daughter who actually came to play. My daughter kept on patting her own lap, inviting her to play, twirling her fingers to catch her attention, while Coco sat chewing and licking my fingers in one hand while I stroked her with the other hand.

And I fell in love.

And she isn’t mine. She belongs to her forever family. She will only be here for this month, if that.

Well, what can I say? It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. Sigh!

Posted in Nature stories, Random Thoughts

My Neighbour: The Queen

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

She is a dog person. I can tell just by looking in her eyes. It’s in the way she is looking at me in expectation, as if I am going to dance out of my bed to lick her. Ugh! I have better things to do than pleasing random people dropping in to visit me.

Okay, I know she is not a random person, probably a neighbour of my temporary-slaves–a really close neighbour, considering she is here everyday, sometimes cooking in the kitchen, always eating and drinking god-knows-what.

Honestly, I don’t know much about these temporary-slaves except that my permanent-slaves trusted them to do my bidding and escorted me to their place so that they themselves could go where they had to.

So far, these people have been satisfactory–they keep my food plate full and the water tastes correct. They offer me random treats that I reject outright, so they don’t expect any special treatment. They stroke me and when they try to pick me up and I give them the evil-eye, they drop me right there on their bed. I like their bed, it is large and the blankets spread on top of it are specially soft.

They have a human kitten who is satisfactory too. She comes in early mornings, late afternoons and evenings and keeps stroking me and offering toys, which I reject, of course. She talks to me about random things–school, friends, teachers–and I ignore her. I close my eyes to remind her it is nap time though I don’t think she takes the hint…until she calls her.

That is another reason I don’t like her. I don’t like random people calling off my slaves, especially when they are stroking my favourite spots. I think her name is Momma. That’s what that kitten calls her. Momma has also been trying to get my attention but I would rather avoid her. That is why I always leave my throne next to kitchen window when she walks in. I would rather hazard sleeping inside my slaves’ room. She may be a worthy subject but that doesn’t change anything. She is a dog-person–it is written all over her face, in her disappointment for not getting a special treatment for just showing up. And that is reason enough to dump her.

I think dogs overdo it. Everytime someone comes in, they have to react–they bark,they bite or they wag their tails and lick. Every single time; like they had been waiting for the opportunity; like they didn’t have anything better to do; like they don’t need time to wash and groom, or sulk and brood…

They give too much importance to their human slaves. It’s shameful. If my mother was here, she would call it attention-seeking behaviour. We cats are above this silly stuff. We eat, we drink, we wash and we sleep. That is enough to get us though the days. We don’t need to run a mile to be pampered. We chose to be pampered. And we chose the pamperor. No Mom, Dick or Harry is going to touch my fur unless I allow it.

Momma is calling my name. I am ignoring her. She is holding out kitty-treats, smiling. I give her an evil-eye and the smile falters. Well, it doesn’t feel as good as I thought–she isn’t evil and she isn’t exactly setting her dog on me. But she is in my territory and that makes her my subject. I have to teach her respect. Disappointed, she drops the treat in my bowl. Good!

Gingerly, she holds out a hand for me to sniff. Hmmm, she is seeking permission to touch. I am tempted to lick the taste of treats off her hand but I don’t. I just sniff and ignore her. She quietly moves her hand on my head and strokes. I should have growled to set her in her place but I allow it for now–it is rather nice the way she is scratching behind my ears…

Ohhh!

Yes!

Yes, Yes, Yes!

Right there, keep doing it!

Ohh my goodness! How did she know?

Ooooh! Oh God, I love her…

But I can’t tell her that, I have to teach her her place…

But this feels so good…

Here, scratch here under my neck…

My goodness, she is a scratch goddess…

Here, a little more on the tummy…

You got it right baby! Keep doing it…

Ohhhh!

Oh no, she is getting distracted by her kitten! Go away you pesky little thing…

Come back, Momma. Do your thing!

Duh! Lost the rhythm! That’s what happens when you socialise while on job. Go away and don’t come back, you…you…disappointing human!

Huh! Call my name all you want. Like I care!

Photo credit: Antonio

Author’s note: I have always been a dog person. When a relative dropped off their cat at our home for a week, I wondered if I’ll like it. But she is furry, quiet and dignified with just the right kind of sass. I love her and she ignores me. I call her name and she moves into my brother-in-law’s room to shake me off. I follow and she gives me ‘the eye’. I offer her treats and she gives me a look of disgust. It’s only when I stroke her that she acknowledges my existence. As soon as the rub ends, I become invisible to her again. Sigh!

Posted in Nature stories

My Neighbour: The Cocophonix

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

Author’s note: Last year, when we shifted to our new house, a welcoming party of six Jungle Babblers came for a visit. This is the tale straight from the horse’s mouth.

I was sitting on that wire when I realised the window was open…finally! I was so excited to meet the new neighbours, so, I just hopped on the ledge. And what did I see? All asleep!

Lazy bones!

It was 6 o’clock. My bretheren and I had been awake for the past two hours already–had breakfast and a flight across the river…

These city people must understand this is not how things work in our countryside.

But you can’t really go around delivering sermons to new people…the best way is to welcome them and then, politely, show them how things are done.

So, I decided to begin our association by giving them a song of welcome–the best way to introduce them to the delights of the early morning country music. I began with my favourite: The Aeroplane. My bretheren joined me as well.

It came out so wonderfully refreshing that the woman woke up right away, jumping to the window where I sat. Her eyes were wide and looked at the street in bewilderment. I was amused. She must be wondering where all that energy came from.

Smiling, I introduced myself. She looked me with her jaw dropped open. A fan already!

Her daughter was stirring, roused by sound of music.

I decided to give them a special piece that the child would surely love: The Chainsaw. I started with the highest notes I could pick, followed by my bretheren.

The child stirred further and the mother said something–I couldn’t really hear her over our music. But she was flapping her wings. These humans have never really learnt to use their wings but I could see my music was making her wish she could fly. So I added more vigour, urging my brothers to give it their best.

Alas, humans are unpredictable like cloudy skies. You never know what they would do next. The woman swung a broom at me!

Now, I don’t want to hurt anyone’s sentiments. I would have accepted a rose but broom is certainly not my style. Firstly, they are too heavy. Secondly, so many twigs of the broom wouldn’t have fit into my nest.

I tried to continue singing but when the broom came too close, I decided it was time to say a rushed goodbye.

After that I tried a few more times of different occasions but with the same results. After the fifth time she offered the broom, I decided it was better to keep my distance.

I think I have hurt her feelings . But I really can’t go building another nest for every fan! What would my wife think?

Posted in Nature stories

My Neighbour: The Adventurer

Posted on by Shaily Agrawal

To call me an adventurer would be an overkill. I am just your regular guy who loves lying in the sun on a free day. But these busy bodies I have as neighbours…

Well, let’s just say they just don’t appreciate the art of doing nothing.

Here I was, minding my own business, lying on this metal contraption my neighbours had brought in recently. The white tyre cover is irresistible and I was lying down on the surface warmed by the sun earlier that day. The neighbour, of course, was infinitely jealous by my comfort and switched on the front light.

Not easily rattled, I paid him no mind. But then, there were the moths on the front light!

I mean, who in the world could resist these delicacies? So, I moved up and made a snatch for one of them but before I could catch it, the moron started the dratted machine.

And I was flying!

I was racing through the roads at a reckless speed that reminded me of the time when that Eagle picked me and cousin Gill from the white wall. Gill didn’t make it. I had to leave my tail behind.

The thought made me sick…

All the while, I was clutching the damned light with all I had, praying to the God of all Lizards to make this stupid contraption stop. These kind of things should come with a disclaimer–a large yellow banner saying, “Stay Away! It Moves!”

Why couldn’t this guy tell me that it moves? Or at least he could have asked me to move before he started it. I always knew that humans were not friendly to our lizard-kind but discourteous too?

Humph! Well, finally it stopped and stayed put for a while.

It wasn’t a bad place. Seemed like a feast was going on around several lights–loads of insects and lizard brethren about the place. Very nice people. Adjusting too. Shared the spoils with me and everything. I even met a girl I really liked–lush curves and a tail with a really unique pattern. I think she got it done at a shop. It suits her.

I wanted to stay but I couldn’t for long, though. The guy was already moving towards the bike. This new girl told me the name of the metal contraption. She thought I was really brave to ride that metal monster! I wish I could stay!

But I hadn’t told mom I was travelling and she would be worried out of her mind, especially after cousin Gill. So, when the guy started leaving on the metal contraption, I hitched a ride again, willingly this time.

As the wind swept over my face when I wasn’t in shock, the whole thing felt mighty fun. May be, the whole “art of doing nothing” was overrated. May be, I will hitch a ride again tomorrow and come back for that girl…

Mom wouldn’t be pleased though.

But who cares?!