mystic savior

Bunty was a cat of destiny!

Yet Bunty was born in a middle class home, among a litter of three cute and cuddly yellow and white kittens. No different from a myriad kittens born in households elsewhere, Bunty was distinctively apart. One unique characteristic were the two eyes of differing colors, green and gray- an omen perhaps, but if so, of what? That was three years ago. Since that fateful night when she came into existence, Bunty provided succor, strength and companionship to Sangay, an old, sick and lonely tenant of the building, which was Bunty’s sanctified birthplace.

Sangay’s story would move a heart of stone. Long since widowed, she served in the government until 1985 when superannuation was reached. Her only daughter was by her side. Unfortunately the gods above did not bless Choden. Though a graduate, smart and confident as city life goes- Choden had some adjustment problems since childhood. She failed at many jobs. She had spells of violence. Her marriage broke up within a month.

Choden finally departed the mortal world, victim of cardiac arrest, in 1998, leaving mother high and dry.

The crutch of Sangay’s existence was now broken. She wept for days in her bitter loneliness. She did have a son who worked across the border in a distant, forbidding place. He visited her during prolonged winter vacations each year.

Sangay’s present day companion was Bunty! No sum of money, no domestic help organization or old age home could provide such caring company, in meditative silence and savoring of the otherworldly too! When Sangay was asked what the life span of a cat was, ‘NINE,’ was the confident reply. Who has not heard of T.S.Eliot’s Macavity and other mystery cats of literature? Who has not seen the Persian and Siamese cats in their regal splendor? Bunty topped them all.

‘Why don’t you get rid of her? Do you not know that cats bring ill-luck?’

‘You will get the cat’s hair in your food and it will worsen your asthma.’

‘How can you eat when Bunty is all over your plate?’

Society and the world did not see eye to eye with Sangay about Bunty. Sangay’s weak health condition necessitated endless visits to doctors and hospitals, sometimes followed by lengthy hospitalization. Strange gadgets like the nebuliser, and ever-increasing medicines, filled her room.

In good time, Bunty, milky white except for those nightmarish eyes, grew into a huge creature- by cat standards- well fed and more of a dog in build and strength than a dainty cat. Strangely enough, every few months came a fresh litter of kittens- surreptitiously behind the bedroom door, in the kitchen under the gas stove or in the loft above the toilet. Thus the mystery of creation repeated itself in grim reminders of Bunty’s own birth. Each time the maid was entrusted the job of carrying the tiny helpless newcomers, when old enough, to some faraway place- to be released from a bag into a new environment far, far away from the nursery. Imagine a two-room apartment overrun by kittens. Sometimes families with kids quickly grabbed the newborn kittens- or homes suffering from the rat menace.

Thus the many charges against Bunty may be summarized as follows- dirty, unkempt, keeping irregular hours with the toilet window as the entrance, interfering with the dining of the family by jumping on the table- spreading disease, ticks abounding on skin- causing family disputes.

The message was clear. There was no getting rid of Bunty who had come to stay. The Sangay-Bunty combination was lethal, mystical and arousing sympathy in the hardest-hearted. The common sense idea was sterilization, may be a fine bath- if cats bathed- and disinfectant powder to prevent fleas from spreading. Bunty was clever enough to see through all plans and kept her distance effectively.

Finally the vet was contacted over telephone, a panacea, it was hoped. The Bunty revolution was getting out of hand. ‘No big deal,’ said the vet. He had all the answers. The problem would be solved in a jiffy.

A vehicle arrived with eager cat-catching staff ready to pounce upon Bunty. Yet Bunty had become an enigma, as the neighborhood knew, a legend in a lifetime. Bunty’s elusiveness was extraordinary. Her fame had reached across the length of the country to curious relatives and perhaps across the seas. Bunty had been photographed, discussed and written about on many occasions. It was drama in real life. Doors and windows were bolted, yet the staff with their leather gloves failed to get at Bunty. They went away and returned, armed this time with a large net-like contraption- a huge edition of the tiny nets used to transfer aquarium fish. From the titanic battle that followed, Bunty emerged unscathed, victorious, reputation intact, a little nervous and frightened perhaps.

It happened like this. After what appeared like hours of a pitched battle between men and lonely beast, would be captors and captive, a feline fury against the wall- Sangay had a change of heart. Unable to tolerate the gruesome sight, of her companion of endless lonely nights being harassed and pursued against her will; she finally paved the way for Bunty’s escape by opening the little toilet window, listening to promptings from within her soul. In a trice, Bunty was gone to freedom and relaxation in the neighboring roofs and bylanes, after a harrowing experience. It would be long hours before Bunty daintily ventured back again on the gingerly, silent footsteps of her tribe. She had established her territory.

The periodic litters continue, the dirty paws continue to leave marks on the bed; fleas abound on Bunty’s body. Eating time is disturbed till she is fed. Nothing has really changed!