My Alarm- My Pet Cat

My pet Bahu Billi wakes me up almost every morning. I don't need an alarm. The only problem is she does it too early in the day when I would have preferred to sleep a little longer. I say it to anyone who are willing to listen that this is very unfair. Bahu sleeps most of the time during the day and when it is time for us humans to rest she puts a spoke to it. 

Some of my readers may recall the post in which I explained how Bahu Billi got her name. For those who didn't get to read it, here is what happened. She got her name because she is a tough survivor like Bahubali. She lost her mother early in life and was living on the mercy of kind people who gave her some crumbs when they ate at a kiosk near our residential complex. 

One day, when my wife was passing by, she saw an injured kitten limping away. She brought it home with the intention of healing the wound and putting her back after a couple of days to "where she belonged". But when she came home we found her to be a trusting and loving kitten and therefore decided  to keep her along with two other cats we already had. Later, we found that Bahu had developed hernia and she underwent an operation to combat the problem. If all this wasn't enough, Bahu ventured to jump out of the window of our third floor flat and survived the fall as well. Thus she earned the name of Bahu Billi!  

There are people who prefer dogs to cats for their loyalty and affectionate nature. Cats are dubbed as "Matlabi" or selfish, cuddling up to you only when they want something from you. There is a joke that dogs are thankful and faithful to the master for providing a place to stay and food to eat, Cats on the other hand give the impression that they are doing us a favour by letting us  stay with them!  In any case it is this independent nature of the creature that is intriguing and worthy of respect. 

 In modern times many human beings behave without spine ever willing to dance to the tunes of those in power or positions of influence for a few crumbs that they may throw their way. When they are asked to bend, they are willing to crawl.  Contrast that with this little creature with a mind of its own. It is rarely willing to do things, permit us even to  fondle or pick it up if it is not in the mood. Having said that, I must say that Bahu is very affectionate, She misses us when we go out and would invariably be waiting at the door to welcome us as we enter, rubbing her body on our legs with palpable enthusiasm. 

As I associate more and more with Bahu and her loving nature, I am in awe of pets who demand so little from their owners, just some food to eat and a little attention. Human beings on the other hand are so complex with huge expectations which they are  not even willing to reveal in simple terms. They expect you to 'guess' and fulfill what they want, if you really care and love them. Add to that puffed up egos, strong likes & dislikes, jealousy, back biting, posessiveness etc and it is easy to see how animals are more simple, loving and trustworthy than humans in a dog eat dog world,  This post started out as the role played by Bahu as a morning alarm for me  but ended up discussing how a pet can bring a lot of meaning and love in one's life.    

                                                     Bahu watching TV with rapt attention...