Nature & Animals….. - HereNow4U.net

Animal Crusaders • Commemorative Issue • October 2010ChupeeChupee,my feline friendChupee was feeling a little lostafter Machu & Pichu left the houseas they grew up. I was alsooffloaded of my daily duty oflooking for them in every nook &corner of the house. My nephewTitun often regrets their absencethough, his daily playtime withthem after the schools he missesbadly. Machu & Pichu were almost‘feline twins’, both had black silkyfur all over. Pichu had two tinyspecks of white on his foreheadand right paw. As naughty kittensthey would romp around all thetime under a pair of vigilant eyesof their mom Chupee who wouldwatch indulgently, interspersedwith a scolding purr sometimes.Almost a year passed as theirthoughts lingered. Chupee gottwo more furballs, one snowwhite and the other one wolf gray.She had chosen a corner of mystudio behind an old canvas asher whelping space. I christenedthem Changkurri & Mangkurri.Titun was ecstatic once more! Hisdaily ‘playtime ritual’ started allover again. Chang & Mang werealso becoming bolder by the day,tottering round all over the placewith intermittent nap coiledinside my colour mixing bowls. Iwould click to record their dailypranks!As our shifting date approaches,Titun became anxious and keptbugging me with his one pointquery… “will Grannies allow youto take the kitty family along intoyour new flat, Apu uncle?” Hewould get dispirited by my reply,that our new flat is too small forthem to have a free run and maydisturb the neighbours there!Now Titun has started suggestinga new option…“why don’t youcontact the CompassionateCrusaders and keep them atKaruna Kunj, at least they wouldget other feline company there!”I couldn’t agree more.The D-day had finally arrived, Iwas sitting, a little distracted, onmy studio chair. A while back Ihave fed them, Titun also pettedthem goodbye before leaving forhis school, couldn’t look at myeyes. Then came the van to takethem to Karuna Kunj. I carriedthem on my lap and put themgently, the driver shut the door. Ipeeped through the van-window,Changkurri & Mangkurri werehuddled together in a corner, alittle scared. Chupee kept staringat me with a blank look. The vanengine started, Chupee wasmoving gradually away from mysight. I just stood on the road,thinking of the day I picked her, atiny furball, from in front of myhouse. I stood there as Chupeeand her Changkurri & Mangkurrifaded away from my frostedeyes..!~ Koustuv BandyopadhyayThe cat has always been associated with the moon. Like the moon it comes to life at night, escaping from humanityand wandering over housetops with its eyes beaming out through the darkness. ~ PATRICIA DALE-GREEN59