It’s a cat call
PAVITHRA SRINIVASAN
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The kittens were in the kitchen. Neelima was afraid her father would find them. For if he did, all hell would break loose…
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Neelima chewed her nails in nervousness. It was the fourth time this week that this had happened, and she was at her wit’s end.
A squeak from the shelf made her wince. Appa would hear them! He was always the first to come to the kitchen – he needed his morning coffee hours before anyone else. The clamour always woke the rest of the household.
Surprise!
Appa hated anything that walked on four legs, had fuzzy skin, and left hair all over the place. That included dogs, cats, mice and sheep. But after a cat had slunk in and drunk all the milk, he hated the feline race the most. But, the animals always seemed to like Neelima. And this culminated in shouting matches between them.
This time, a furry visitor had littered, behind the gas cylinders. Neelima jumped in glee — she had never had pet kittens before — until she remembered Appa’s face. If he knew, he would throw out the cat and kittens, and yell at Neelima. She was afraid of his yelling .
She hadn’t replaced the saucer of milk she’d put out last night. Appa saw her peeking, as he added decoction to his milk.
“Had your Boost? Well then, begin your studies.” Neelima murmured that it was holidaytime. “Then go help your mother. And if I hear a word about cats, how they can’t find food or milk …”
“Appa, I never …”
Neelima went away. “I can’t stand it,” she said to her sympathetic neighbour, Vedha Aunty.
“I love cats, Appa hates them. I’m terrified he’ll find out. Why does he hate animals?”
“To each his own, my girl,” soothed Vedha Aunty. "It’s bad luck … but be patient. Give others a chance. You may see a different side to him. All you need to do is look.”
Neelima, walked back home. She went to the kitchen, to check on the kittens. She peered around the door — and her jaw dropped.
Appa was at the kitchen shelf, looking around furtively. He placed a saucer of milk on the floor. He made a few mewling noises.
“Here,” he whispered. “Come and get your milk. I don’t want you to die of starvation. You and your babies! Meowing inside the shelf! You think I didn’t hear you? Think only my daughter has the right to feed you?” The cat slowly moved towards the milk, Neelima grinned. Appa’s other side had actually turned out to be as soft as … a kitten.
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