#5: Coexistence
Hi there!
I’ve been thinking about how the whole world, for the most part has been learning to coexist with a deadly, invisible-to-the-naked-eye organism for more than a year now. Reflecting on this made me turn to how my family has also learnt to adjust over the past few years and live their lives around five furry friends who frequent my compound everyday.
The one that’s been around forever is Amber, a black cat with eyes that look like they’re piercing into your soul. She’s extremely sweet and she’s been through too many batches of kittens. Right now, we feel she’s gone a bit senile and developed an attitude of sorts! Amber turns and runs in the opposite direction most of the time when she encounters members of my family. She has a soft spot for my uncle and my mother only because they feed her ( just kidding). You know Amber’s around when you hear a distinct, loud half meow. We’ve seen Amber have secret conversations with my mother at night, she’s probably complaining about how everyone’s showing her too much of love. She stealthily hides under cars and when she senses human movement she lets out that half meow that’s ready to startle anyone because you won’t know where it’s coming from!
Then there’s her daughter Chaos, salt and peppered with shades of brown, black and yellow. When she was a kitten, she used to mess up and destroy everything she came across, being hyperactive, hence the name Chaos. Her best friend was a poor stuffed turtle, God knows where he is now! She comes and curls up against your legs or actually runs behind you - there’s no inbetween. Of late, she’s having anxiety problems as another male cat comes and steals her food. Someone needs to be with her the whole time while she eats her food. Most of the time, she keeps turning behind and checking to see if any other cat is there and we have to reassure her.
Chaos and Amber’s relationship is, how do I put it, all over the place. Sometimes they talk and boop noses and act all cute but other times it’s claws out and major hissing. I love finding out where they are each day, a different ledge, a different building, a different roof. Talking to them like a baby is one of the favourite things my cousin and I like to do. My uncle feeds both of them at the same time, else Amber will want a second helping and that’s why she carries a paunch! Chaos and Amber used to be scared of my father whenever he walks inside, but now that’s all gone.
A recent addition to the cat family is Rusty, a small white cat with bits of orange. She’s fearless and friendly, going near anyone and everyone, which is unlikely for a cat. Rusty has taken a liking to my aunt, and she says that Rusty has adopted her!
We’ve all seen vidoes of cats and dogs being friends and stared at awe. We’re pretty sure Rusty is in cahoots with Brownie, the cutest little stray dog with an extremely fluffy tail. There’s an office next to my house and they’ve adopted Brownie, but her territory extends into my house as well. She had a sister who was my favourite, but she died unexpectedly last year. Brownie and my brother are the closest, she’s always with him. She makes a nice spot for herself right in the middle outside our gate. Whenever a car has to get in or out, she does not flinch even a bit. We’ve to get out of the car and try to shoo her away or get her to move which almost never works. This leads to incessant pleading for her to move, while she still thinks about her decision.
Her best friend is another stray called Atom, who also comes into our compound all the way from another street. I see him first thing in the morning sleeping under a car. At first no one noticed him, because he looked just like the white Nagarjuna cement bags next to him. One day, I saw the so called white cement bag moving, I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me because I’d just woken up. Then I see the cement bag get up and run away! From then on, we call him Atom Nagarjuna. I think Brownie taught him a few of her tricks because he refuses to budge as well when we need him to.
The five of them can be seen relaxing and sleeping under the shade, owing to the sweltering heat. It’s a heartwarming feeling seeing as to how one compound has naturally become home, or atleast a temporary haunt for these five animals. With all the hurt and sadness going around right now, seeing them is something to look forward to right now, and I hope reading about them was a distraction for you, dear Reader.
Links you’ll love
Should husbands watch the birth of their children? - watch a reporter asking the people of Sydney their opinion, in 1962!
Relish in the views from strangers’ windows around the world for a refreshing change.
What the new roaring twenties will be like - an upbeat, fun read suggested by a friend!
It feels like I’ve imbibed so much knowledge after reading this lovely article about 31 things Madeleine Dore learnt in 31 years ( via my favourite newsletter Alipore Post )
Kitten Bowl 2017 - an excessive amount of adorable animal videos are the need of the hour.
Songs from the series This Is Us - filled with mellow tunes + an instrumental to die for.
Wishing you no extra stress atop the stress related to Covid, let’s take it one day at a time. OH and, go get your vaccines starting May 1st!
— adithi
Very good write up
What an awesome write up .. recently I read about someone feeding regularly 8 stray cats .. I was truly appalled. But your writing skills need all my kudos! They are scared of your father.. wow!!!!