Of Course, Cats Change
And so do many, many things
For now, let us call them Latuku and Chituku. They are neighbors and Latuku is the older one. When I opened the door that night, she stood in front of me still dressed in her uniform—kurta-pants-chunni in varying shades of blue. Her hair was thick, well-oiled and woven into two plaits folded twice over. Chituku was the younger one. She was dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, her short hair left open, her face looking a tad more scrubbed than Latuku’s. Apparently Latuku had just returned from school.
It was past 9PM and I had settled down nicely in bed with my book and music when the bell rang. Groaning inwardly, I went and opened the door. Who would come at this Ungodly hour? Yes, Ungodly, because when you are an empty nester, adjectives acquire new meanings.
Anyway, there we stood that Wednesday night, Latuku and Chituku on one side of the grill door and me on the other side. Their energy pulsating with, “Let us just zoom in through the door” kind of vibe and mine cranky, annoyed and plain... grumpy.
“Aunty...cat...”
“Oh yeah...that” I muttered hoping my utterly bored expression would send these two young girls squirrelling back to their house.
“Amma said you have a cat,” Latuku said again.
Amma.
Oh yeah.
A few days ago, there was this lady who had come to give Tirupati prasadam. It was morning and I was feeling a lot chipper and more welcoming of course. Just as she placed the Prasadam into my proffered palm, Maon walked in looking all regal and proud.
“Cat!” the woman squealed, her eyes dancing with excitement.
“My daughter loves cats!!!” she muttered joyously as though someone had placed an ice cream in her hands.
Maon being Maon continued to walk and sniff at all his regular corners.
“My daughter is crazy about cats....” she continued excitedly. I looked at the woman—wet curls falling all over her face, dressed in a green sari, a big bindi on her forehead and Jhumkas dancing enticingly on her ears. I swear had she not been holding the big steel plate with several prasadam packets, she would have run and lifted Maon off the floor.
“Send your daughter sometime to play with my cat,” I said politely.
The said daughter now stood on my doorstep with her friend.
“Aunty...cat,” she said.
“See its almost midnight...why don’t you girls come tomorrow morning?” I tried to negotiate.
Just then Maon strode in from one of his hiding places. Maon...Mow...Zen master who chooses the most opportune moments to make one of his grand entrances.
“K-a-a-a-a-t", Latuku and Chituku screamed in unison.
K-a-a-a-a-t
K-a-a-t
Cat
Cat.
It was as though the entire universe was conspiring against me to open the door. I did. Latuku and Chituku tornado-ed in. Latuku bent down to lift Maon.
Now, Maon, Mow, Zenmaster in one word can be described as...aloof. He does not like to be hugged, lifted, nor cuddled.
“Wait...don’t!!!” I shouted, “He doesn’t like to be lifted.”
“Ahh...okay,” Latuku and Chituku stepped back.
I felt bad for them.
“See...cats are not like dogs...hyper and all that. They are more....” I began.
“Aunty....I KNOW!!!” Latuku butted in breathlessly.
“I know...” she continued, calmer now.
“You know?” I asked, trying hard not to yawn.
“I am an expert on cats,” she said arching her neck proudly.
“Of course you are,” I said my sleep disappearing into the night.
“Aunty...my Ammamma used to have 15 cats...” Latuku said.
15?
Did she say 15?
I looked at the young woman in front of me with newfound respect. Chituku was of course watching all this.
“Aunty...In my Atta’s house...there are 5 cats,” she said leaning forward excitedly.
Wow. 5 and 15. I felt like a rookie cat Mom. These young women obviously knew more about the cats than me.
“Aunty...there was this cat called Bheemu...he would come and sleep in my lap and as I would pat him...all the other cats too would come,” said Latuku excitedly.
I looked at Latuku with admiration. From the corner of my eye, I also watched Chituku. She leaned forward and before Latuku could begin to say something, she burst out, “Aunty...I sing lullabies to all my Atta’s cats”
“The cats would follow me everywhere,” Latuku burst out yet again.
“The cats loved when I sang them songs,” said her rival cat mom.
“You have lovely hair,” I butted in.
“Me?” chorused both Latuku and Chituku together.
“Both of you...both of you,” I said placatingly.
“It was thicker than this Aunty,” said Latuku ruefully, “I lost a lot of hair after shifting here.”
I clicked my tongue in sympathy.
“School stress?” I asked.
“Yeah...lots”, Latuku said.
That was a cue enough for Chituku.
“In our school...there is far more stress,” she said.
“It can’t be more than ours,” said Latuku authoritatively, “See...I just returned from school...”
“So, the student of the more stressful school gets a prize?” I asked, butting in between.
Both the girls giggled.
“Aunty...truth be told my school is not that bad,” Chituku said. I nodded wondering what was going to come next.
“I tell the teachers...that I couldn’t finish the homework and they tell me to submit the next day because well....” Chituku stared at the floor.
“Because?” I asked wondering where this grand revelation would steer the conversation.
“...because Aunty I am the Blue House Captain,” Chituku finished smugly,” ...and I am the captain of the entire C section.”
I nodded, wondering how else to respond.
“In my school, the teachers are not partial...the rules are same for everyone,” Latuku retorted.
Of course!
“Hey, you girls were practicing dance on the terrace, right? And your mother was teaching you, no? So much energy all of you were displaying,” I said looking at Latuku.
Latuku nodded with great enthusiasm. And after that information gushed with great ferocity.
Yes, they were practicing.
Yes, Latuku’s mother was a great choreographer, and their group went on to win the first prize.
Latuku’s mother had also choreographed her brother's dance but waste fellow...he changed all the moves and lost the chance to win a prize.
And yes, Latuku had two older brothers who were taller than the tallest uncle in their family.
That was when Chituku interjected.
No, her brother was taller than Latuku’s tallest member of the family.
Chituku also had a brother?
Of course, she had! The son of the paternal cousin of her aunt would effectively be her brother, no?
Phew!
Of course. Yes!
In between all this talk about tall brothers, winning choreography and failed dance moves, once again Maon made his appearance. Confidently, he leapt onto the center table and settled down there.
Chituku put her finger on his nose and Maon rubbed his cheek against it. Latuku scratched him on his forehead. Maon purred contentedly, folded his legs and settled down. Latuku and Chituku continued to scratch him on his forehead and under his chin. After some time Maon closed his eyes and went off to sleep.
“Do you know...cats change?” said Latuku looking at Chituku.
“Yeah...really Akka?” asked Chituku looking awed and impressed. It was as though I had disappeared from the room.
“Yes, they do. Remember the time when we first met? How quiet and withdrawn you were...and now look at you...” said Latuku with a smile.
Both the girls giggled at the memory. I inhaled deeply. The night was quiet. Somewhere down below, a dog let out a howl. A car honked. And all three of us sat with Maon between us.
“Aunty...Maon will also change,” said the senior Cat mother looking at me as though to reassure me.
I nodded. After that both the girls left.
I locked the door and went back to my room.
Cats change.
Cats change.
Cats change.
That night when I slept, I dreamt that Maon had morphed into a tiny cat human. He has the body of a ten-year-old but with fur and tail. He is dressed in Jyo’s old T-shirt and is following me everywhere.
“Amma...Amma...” he calls out to me, and I turn back to look at him.
“Yes, I know,” I say to him, “Cats change...” And behind him, I see Latuku and Chituku sitting cross legged on the floor chatting excitedly with each other.
“Cats change...aunty,” they cheer excitedly.
“And so do humans...” I shout back excitedly. But Latuku and Chituku are not listening. They are lost in their own world!
Notes:
Prasadam: Sacred offering given at temples and other places of worships including homes.
Ammamma: Maternal grandmother
Atta: Aunt— father’s sister
Utterly delightful, Sridevi!