The day I fell from grace

One moment you are the only one in someone’s life and next moment… I am sure some of you must have experienced this and will agree, it really hurts. Maybe, yesterday’s boyfriend has left you or the kid who hero worshipped you discovered your Achilles heel? Whosoever it is, it can make you really feel down in dumps and totally worthless.

I lost favour- it was Circuit who without saying anything said it all. It was made clear to me that I did NOT deserve her adoration, if fact she had made a grave mistake and it was not going to be repeated EVER. I stand chastised. I have begged for another chance but it is not to be. Circuit has signed on a stamped paper!

In a houseful of animals, there are always ones who are special because they have specially adopted you. Well, I got adopted by Circuit. She would sleep with me, (in spite of the fact that I invariably turn if I find a cat perched on my back) follow me around and once in a while gift me with some trophy.  A milk packet (fortunately our own) has been delivered at my feet, and even a piece of stolen fish, to mention just two!

Well, the day of disgrace began with Gibly killing a bird. It was awful. Usually, we are able to prevent such incidents. But such things do happen if you have cats at home. By afternoon we had forgotten the incident. Circuit hadn’t. She is fortunately not blessed with an overdose of hunting skill so killing a bird for gifting was a little beyond her. She decided that the dead bird was a perfect present for me.

I was in the process of watering the plants when I found Circuit advancing towards me with the dead bird in her mouth! I screamed and rushed into the house closing the door behind me. Next moment I found her at the window sill preparing to jump in. I was quick enough to bang the window shut on her face. She tried another window (do you recall the song Pal bhar ke liye koi mujhey pyar kar le?  Circuit being the fourlegged version of Dev Anand) but here to I managed to keep her out. Taking no chances, I closed all possible entry points.

Curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to know whether she had abandoned the bird. I went up to the terrace to see what was happening. I peeped down and FROZE. Circuit was climbing up with the bird in her mouth! I threw a bucket of water which was nearby.

Circuit climbed down. She decided I was not worthy of her love or present. Years have gone by. She tolerates me and accepts the extra pieces of fish I usually have for her. Unfortunately, things are not the same. Now, I am just another member of the family.