Dapple has its way
VARALAKSHMI ANANDKUMAR
|
Ashika was adamant. She wanted a puppy and she would settle for nothing else...
|
P. Manivannan
Ashika was furious. Her father had told her very clearly that she could not keep a pup. "Our flat is too small," her father had said. "Besides, we live on the sixth floor. It would be cruel to keep it cooped up." But Ashika was not willing to listen and would not talk to anyone.
The next day she had a surprise. Her father thrust a tiny, squirming creature into her arms. A kitten dappled brown and white and its eyes were greyish-blue. Ashika pulled an ugly face. "Ugh... I don't want this. It's a pup I want, not this scrawny cat." Yet, Dapple stayed on in the house. Mummy, daddy and Rohit loved it. It would play with a bit of string and turn quite mad, jumping, biting, and worrying it. Suddenly it would stop to scratch its ears and begin all over again. Mummy would forget to turn off the burner when she started watching its antics. And Rohit actually took time off from the Cartoon Network to watch! Dapple had become everyone's darling — except Ashika's. Ashika still pined for a pup.
One day Ashika was alone at home. She was sitting on the rocking chair, with her doll. She almost fell asleep as she rocked to and fro. Suddenly there was a movement behind her. Ashika opened her eyes with a start. It was Dapple — her enemy! It was staring at her with wide round eyes. Then it started mewing beseechingly. Ashika got out of the chair with an angry yell. "Stupid creature!" she shouted, and went to sit on the floor, taking her doll with her. But she couldn't help throwing a glance at the kitten. Dapple was staring at her with half closed eyes. Maybe she was imagining it, but it seemed to wear a hurt, rejected look and this time Ashika had to force herself to dislike it; "Stupid thing," she said again, "I hate cats." And the little girl turned away from the kitten determined not to look at it again. But after a little while, she looked again. Dapple slowly making its way to her. Before Ashika could get up, Dapple climbed on her lap, pushed away the doll and settled itself comfortably and was looking at her as if to say "Am I not better than a silly old toy?"
When Ashika's mother walked in, she was amazed. "Why Ashika," she began to say, "we have never been able to make the kitten sit on our laps for even two seconds — and here it is purring and sitting on your lap!"
Then she stopped. On Ashika's face was a look she had never seen before. It wore pride, joy, a little bit of guilt and most of all love.
Ashika looked at her mother. "I was silly to hate Dapple, mummy," she said. "It's too sweet for words. And so clever too."
Dapple purred contentedly. She had got her own way. Ashika had joined her fan club.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Young World
