'Cat'astrophy !!!

Getting ready in the morning has always been a rush affair for me. It doesnt matter how early I get up. I always end up running hither and thither and just about manage to catch my bus. (Alas !). Anyway, today was no exception. But guess what I should see in the hall while eating carrots, combing hair and searching for my mobile (yes, all at the same time)?!? Horrors of horrors...A FAT BROWN CAT !!! It sprang behind the TV and managed to slide out through the front door. I was aghast !!! The feline species have not forgiven me. Everytime they HAVE to appear in the most unexpected of places, in the most unexpected of moments and make my heart jump out of my body, hit the opposite wall and jump back in just in time to save my life.

This reminds me of a nightmarish early morning in college. I was in my third year and it was summer. We all slept with our balcony doors open in our respective rooms in hostel. I was in good sleep when I suddenly woke up having a feeling I was not alone in that room. I was not wrong. Yes, a thin black cat with green eyes was sitting right next to me on my bed. Then two things happened in a single instant - I had my first attack of paralysis, it had its first experience of being PT Usha's feline counterpart(atleast I think so) - in short, it jumped past me out of the window and disappeared into the darkness in lightning speed.

All said and done, I am not so much of an animal lover. My love for animals extends only to the point where I can manage to not hate them and can manage to not interfere in their existence. My sincere prayer to all the feline, cannine, whatever-ine species of the world (though they cannot read this) - " Please stay away from me. Good fences make good neighbours :- "

Brown Purse Blues

It takes one of those bright, chirpy mornings where you are all positive thought and energy and are looking forward to a day of "extreme" productivity , to realise you forgot your invaluable purse at your office desk the previous night. Then begins the most unceremonious descent of all nightmares on your day. Yes, this happened to me today.

I had just jotted down "action items" for the day when the disastrous memory struck. I felt like kicking myself hard enough to make me land on my office desk right then - (it would not have made any difference if my purse was actually stolen, anyway). The sunny morning suddenly became unbearably hot. With a heavy heart, I boarded my bus. The journey never seemed to end. When I finally managed to gasp, pant and run to my desk, I found a note from Security - "Claim your wallet from Security Desk". Whew !!! My bright, chirpy morning is back :) .

The point is - I wondered how everything (including me) changed instantly - the blessed instant being when I took my purse in my hands and held it securely tight. Just a while ago, I was anxious and tense. In a moment, I was all smiles and light. In fact shrewd observers would have noticed a light hop in my walk. I even managed to hum a song. The security guy made my day, indeed ! I thanked him immensely and mentally made a 'note' of a new 'note' to go into my newly acquired habit of making daily notes - "Check for purse and mobile before leaving office".