HOW ABOUT A COMMA ?

At times even the most patient and resigned mothers lose their cool. I am sure I will have a ton of mothers agreeing with me but I am equally sure that not many will be traveling in the same boat as I am! In fact,when I am letting off steam, I think it is Nature’s way of protecting me – a little more patience and my boat will sink with the load!

Ok . So I am whining – but not without REASONS. You will have to be patient as I list out my woes.    I promise to keep it as brief as possible…

 

Act 1.Scene 1. [Monday morning]

I am a little disturbed as Daughter 1  i.e. B, has not contacted. She, presently working in Chennai, has not got in touch after reaching office. I try calling. No response. I am getting more and more worried. At last she takes the call.

B- “Wait, wait wait!  Call you back…there’s a …”

Me -”There is a WHAT?”

Too late. The line has been disconnected.

I keep trying to no avail. An hour later I am again lucky.

Me – “Are you in office?”

B-  “No, no! I had to return”.

Me – “What for?”

B- “To drop the kitten in my room and arrange for some milk.”

Me- Who is going to look after it ?”

B- “Don’t worry! Lots of animal lovers here!!! There is this girl…[ this was all before the poop story began. Most animal lovers confuse an animal with a fairy!- that is of course presuming fairies don’t poop]”

Believe it or not my darling daughter was headed for her place of work when she heard a mew from the bonnet of a car. Naturally the Bong Nightingale had a tough time trying to explain to the Tamil speaking crowd the urgency of the matter. To make matters worse the mews were audible only to her! Only when the owner turned up was she able to explain and the kitten rescued.

 

By next morning the animal lovers had turned hostile and the kitten had to be taken to the office. Thankfully, when things were seriously getting out of hand, God happened to glance in her direction… and a good Samaritan adopted the kitten.

Act 1. Scene 2.

B back with us in Kolkata for a break. A hectic day is planned. Lots of shopping to be done and friends to be got in touch with and last but not the least our wedding anniversary dinner. She is off and I don’t expect to see her for the next few hours at least. Within five minutes I get a call.

B- “Ma, I think I will have to change my plans.”.

Me- (warily) Why?”

B -”Oh there’s a pup who has got hit. I think he needs a vet. Could you send Baba…”

That was the end of all plans. This story did not end well. Father and daughter drove down 30 km to the vet who wasn’t there and worse ..another one was. Next morning another trip and though the doc did all that was possible the puppy did not survive the journey back. The day after was another story. We are still waiting for the opportune moment.  Of course one does not grudge the poor pup anything. It would have been great if it had survived.

Act 1. Scene 3. This morning my eldest , B, and my youngest,D, set off on another trip. This time to the well-known temple of Kolkata, Dakhineshwar. This time it is a bit better- 45mins go by before I get a call.

B- Maa.. [then the ominous ..] there is this pup which has hurt its foot and has temperature..

Me -May I know how on Earth did you get to feel a pup while travelling in a car?

B- Actually, Bunnu, ..here talk to her!

D- Not me at all! But ya I think the pup needs a vet and thereafter it is going to be put back!

Well, that would be a first alright! Some dogs are mad and can’t be put back. E.g. Snap.[ B’s find] She is a pure psycho case. She has never got over her traumatic experience and feels safe only in a cage! She rushes out to do her job and gets frantic to be back in her cage. The question of returning her to her locality just did not arise.

Some are too good to be put out. E.g. Yanny. How can anyone put out such a good natured dog?

Some are bad. E.g. Maggie [B again!!!!] she is so naughty she would get murdered in no time. Moreover she has food allergy so she cannot survive on the street!

And now we have—-? , who cannot be put back for the doc says her damaged leg has to be amputated.

Life is full.

 

PS: She now has a name…. Deep Fry , the literal translation of “ghee e bhaja” implying a totally unfortunate looking being in Bengali. It’s a misnomer though! And  she didn’t have to get her leg amputated after all!

Deep Fry after a month at our place

 

Deep Fry here seen playing with Turbo