Pet are really a joy of life. Most of our neighbours have dogs of various breeds for pets. But I opted for cat. I always liked cats.
How my pet Rani came into my life is also a story. One winter night two years ago, after I went to bed I heard a faint mewing sound at my bedroom door outside. I got up and opened the door after switching on light. I found a tiny kitten there shivering in cold. It was grey-brown in colour. It looked pleadingly at me with her blue eyes and mewed. I picked it in my arms and took it inside. To warm her up I tucked it under my quilt.
Then, I remem-bered that it must be hungry because when I picked it up its belly was deflated. A day before a cat was found
dead in a nearby drain. I guessed it was the mother of the poor kitten I had found. And it had somehow stumbled at my door as if willed by fate. I felt sudden affection for the poor orphan cat. I am a girl of 15 years old. Very sentimental and compassionate I am, so I think.
Now the first thing I had to do was to feed the hungry kitten. Then, I chanced to glance at the glass of milk that lay on my bedside table. I had forgotten to drink my night cap milk which I most of the time do and earn my mother’s rebuke. That night I thought that perhaps my forgetfulness was kitten’s luck. I, at once poured the milk in a platter that covered the milk glass and invited the kitten, ‘Rani! come here, drink milk.’ I had named the kitten ‘Rani’ without any conscious thought. May be, Rani Mukherjee is my favourite film star. So, I had that name always in my mind everytime as a daydream and it came out unwittingly. My own name is Laxmi. The kitten lapped up the milk in no time as it was very hungry.
All night long Rani slept in my bed snuggled up to my feet. Often it would make a strange purring sound and caress my feet with its hairy body which tingled me pleasantly. In the morning my mother came to my room and discovered the presence of the kitten. I introduce Rani to my mother and asked if I could keep it as my pet. At first she would not listen to it. The kitten kept mewing at my mother looking at her with its blue eyes. That somehow softened the attitude of my mother. She did not ask me to leave the kitten at some park far away from our home.
That day was holiday. I did not have to go to school. I fed Rani milk out of my share of breakfast. My father noticed the kitten but said nothing and only smiled. The kitten followed me all day long wherever I went. My mother made faces at us. In the evening my mother and father had a long conversation. I don’t know what transpired between them. But at dinner time to my delight my mother announced that I could keep Rani as my pet. My father gave me a broad smile.
A sense of relief swept over me. I squealed in delight and kissed my mother. I carried Rani to my father in my arms. He patted on its head and kissed my forehead benignly. That is how Rani came to be my pet. We two became an item. My mother also started liking Rani who would often be seen in the kitchen purring against her leg. Rani grow up fast and became a good pet.
Meanwhile I read books on cats and learnt about cat foods. I saw pet programmes on TV to know about cat upbringing and cat behaviour. Cats are different creatures from dogs. You don’t have to take a cat out for a walk. They do their own patrolling. At night Rani goes out for a cat walk or to hunt. A cat is capable of taking care of itself and is self-dependent to some degree. Since Rani came into our lives rats disappeared from our house. I think Rani hunted them out. Rani lives happily with my mother all day long while I am away at school and father gone to his office.
When I return from school Rani is always there at the door to welcome me. Then, till bed time we stay together. Rani sleeps in my lap or by my side on sofa when I watch TV. While I do my homework, Rani plays around chasing or pouncing upon an imaginary mouse. It amuses me to see how seriously Rani takes her game. Her freezing posture, training her eyes on a point, wiggling of whiskers and sudden leap acts are so very real.
My father tells me that I have changed a lot for the better since Rani came into my life. I am told that earlier I was a squeamish and ill tempered girl. I used to throw a lot of tantrums. But now I am a serene and calm girl. I no more fret or complain about anything. The change has greatly pleased my parents. They have grown more affectionate to me. And they appreciate the role of Rani in changing my attitude and the behaviour. It just happened without me realising that I was undergoing a psychological transformation. It is amazing how a small kitten changed a girl.
There is no doubt that pets are great friends of human beings. They calm down nerves of their masters and keep them peaceful. The pets love their masters without asking for anything in return except love. They always remain faithful and their loyalty comes without any condition. Thank you, Rani, for becoming a part of my life.
