Once upon a time, there was a kitten. A tiny, scrawny, ginger-coloured little ball of fluff. Shivering and whimpering in the corner of a park, petrified at the big, noisy world around it. Its huge golden eyes desperately seeking for the comforting sight and feel of its mother.
Some small, nice children came a-playing in the park. They lived in a posh colony of Noida, and had seen a "didi" every evening, who lived in a rented barsati there, and had a pet cat she loved. They came upon the trembling kitten and were sad to see it all alone , hungry and sad. They chattered excitedly amongst themselves, contemplating on what to do with the tiny creature.
The doorbell rang. Aanchal "didi" opened the door, to see two shy little children holding up a tiny basket. She was surprised, since she had never spoken to the children before. She looked inside, and to her delight, saw a pair of liquid, tawny eyes set in the cutest, softest, most innocently adorable face of the tiny kitten. The children handed her the gift and ran away, secure in the knowledge that they had brought the lost, helpless baby HOME. Where the "didi" lived with another little cat, Xena.
Aanchal held the kitten in her lap, looked into its trusting eyes, and was lost! She taught it to drink milk, as it was so small that it did not know how to lap up milk from a saucer. She gave it warmth, safety, comfort, food, love..and..a name. Gabrielle.
Days, weeks, months went by, and Gabrielle grew into a strong, beautiful, friendly cat..with an attitude of disdain towards the whole world, and love flowing out from her every move, her fluid eyes..for her "mother". On her first routine visit to the vet, it was discovered that Gabrielle was not what "she" seemed. She was, in fact, a "he"- and the vet laughingly christened him "Gabriel" :-)
Gabriel lived with his adopted mom, and moved in to her new home when she married her long-time friend, and love- of -her -life, Gourav. Both of them made a home for both Xena and Gabriel, and the years went by - the love in their quaint household ever-growing, ever- alive. Gabriel responded to his name and had the most delightful antics. He learnt how to jump on a door-knob and turn it, on the door latch and unlatch it.. to be with his beloved Aanchal. Looking at him, it sometimes seemed that he actually could think, plan, and execute situations to his own benefit. The love he had for his "mom", was obvious to even the non-animal lover's eye. And was incredible beyond belief! There was a new addition to the menagerie that was "home" to the abandoned, lost helpless creatures- a tiny puppy that they found on the road one day- Brandy. The three romped around their home, and spread sunshine along their way, as they grew.
17th June 2011. Gabriel, as usual, following his mistress around the room with his tawny eyes, watched as she got dressed to go out. He jumped down near her, purring and rubbing his soft head on her legs. Then he went out on the balcony of the flat on the 5th storey, as he did every morning, to sun himself a bit and sleep on a cushion on the chair. Aanchal called out to say Bye to him, as she had done the four years he had been with her. Not hearing the sleepy meaow in response, she looked for him everywhere, but could not find him. Then she noticed that Brandy was jumping up and down at the fencing of the balcony and barking loudly, running up to her and back to the railing. Fearing the worst, Aanchal and Gourav ran down to the car park, hoping against hope that their fears were unfounded.. and suddenly their driver called out that Gabriel was hiding under one of the cars. They picked him up tenderly, and rushed him to the vet. Gabriel had fallen off the railing and down 5 floors. He had broken part of his lower back, and seemed to be in shock. The vet gave him some injections and told them that 24 hours were crucial. They nursed him gently, warming his cold, pale body with their arms through the night. He would cry with pain, then curl up in Aanchal's lap, looking at her with eyes glazed with pain. Today morning, the vet again examined him, and said he may pull through, then again, he may not.
All through the day, both "parents" sat with their "baby".. willing him to fight..to get well, heal, recover. Then, on the way to the vet in the evening, he died.
------"and then he took his last breath in my arms... and I told G that he isn't breathing...tried to close his eyes...and G looked at him and his face crumpled up too...we were trying to rush to the doc's place to see if there's any chance of getting him back...Got stuck in a traffic jam outside the vet's place...rushed in ....And he checked for a heartbeat 6 times, and then...that's it.
Ma, everything in the house reminds me of him. He used to climb up everywhere...Get inside everything...Feels so empty...and weird... and sad. Put him in the cardboard box he used to sleep in... to bury him next to Xena."
All of you who have had pets and loved them, will understand the pain. All who haven't.. may think its too much hype. All I want to say is - the immense love a pet gives you, the intense trust, the complete belonging..is something we humans can never find among our own kinds.
"It is better to have loved and lost..than never to have loved at all".
RIP, Gabriel. This is for you.
Some small, nice children came a-playing in the park. They lived in a posh colony of Noida, and had seen a "didi" every evening, who lived in a rented barsati there, and had a pet cat she loved. They came upon the trembling kitten and were sad to see it all alone , hungry and sad. They chattered excitedly amongst themselves, contemplating on what to do with the tiny creature.
The doorbell rang. Aanchal "didi" opened the door, to see two shy little children holding up a tiny basket. She was surprised, since she had never spoken to the children before. She looked inside, and to her delight, saw a pair of liquid, tawny eyes set in the cutest, softest, most innocently adorable face of the tiny kitten. The children handed her the gift and ran away, secure in the knowledge that they had brought the lost, helpless baby HOME. Where the "didi" lived with another little cat, Xena.
Aanchal held the kitten in her lap, looked into its trusting eyes, and was lost! She taught it to drink milk, as it was so small that it did not know how to lap up milk from a saucer. She gave it warmth, safety, comfort, food, love..and..a name. Gabrielle.
Days, weeks, months went by, and Gabrielle grew into a strong, beautiful, friendly cat..with an attitude of disdain towards the whole world, and love flowing out from her every move, her fluid eyes..for her "mother". On her first routine visit to the vet, it was discovered that Gabrielle was not what "she" seemed. She was, in fact, a "he"- and the vet laughingly christened him "Gabriel" :-)
Gabriel lived with his adopted mom, and moved in to her new home when she married her long-time friend, and love- of -her -life, Gourav. Both of them made a home for both Xena and Gabriel, and the years went by - the love in their quaint household ever-growing, ever- alive. Gabriel responded to his name and had the most delightful antics. He learnt how to jump on a door-knob and turn it, on the door latch and unlatch it.. to be with his beloved Aanchal. Looking at him, it sometimes seemed that he actually could think, plan, and execute situations to his own benefit. The love he had for his "mom", was obvious to even the non-animal lover's eye. And was incredible beyond belief! There was a new addition to the menagerie that was "home" to the abandoned, lost helpless creatures- a tiny puppy that they found on the road one day- Brandy. The three romped around their home, and spread sunshine along their way, as they grew.
17th June 2011. Gabriel, as usual, following his mistress around the room with his tawny eyes, watched as she got dressed to go out. He jumped down near her, purring and rubbing his soft head on her legs. Then he went out on the balcony of the flat on the 5th storey, as he did every morning, to sun himself a bit and sleep on a cushion on the chair. Aanchal called out to say Bye to him, as she had done the four years he had been with her. Not hearing the sleepy meaow in response, she looked for him everywhere, but could not find him. Then she noticed that Brandy was jumping up and down at the fencing of the balcony and barking loudly, running up to her and back to the railing. Fearing the worst, Aanchal and Gourav ran down to the car park, hoping against hope that their fears were unfounded.. and suddenly their driver called out that Gabriel was hiding under one of the cars. They picked him up tenderly, and rushed him to the vet. Gabriel had fallen off the railing and down 5 floors. He had broken part of his lower back, and seemed to be in shock. The vet gave him some injections and told them that 24 hours were crucial. They nursed him gently, warming his cold, pale body with their arms through the night. He would cry with pain, then curl up in Aanchal's lap, looking at her with eyes glazed with pain. Today morning, the vet again examined him, and said he may pull through, then again, he may not.
All through the day, both "parents" sat with their "baby".. willing him to fight..to get well, heal, recover. Then, on the way to the vet in the evening, he died.
------"and then he took his last breath in my arms... and I told G that he isn't breathing...tried to close his eyes...and G looked at him and his face crumpled up too...we were trying to rush to the doc's place to see if there's any chance of getting him back...Got stuck in a traffic jam outside the vet's place...rushed in ....And he checked for a heartbeat 6 times, and then...that's it.
Ma, everything in the house reminds me of him. He used to climb up everywhere...Get inside everything...Feels so empty...and weird... and sad. Put him in the cardboard box he used to sleep in... to bury him next to Xena."
All of you who have had pets and loved them, will understand the pain. All who haven't.. may think its too much hype. All I want to say is - the immense love a pet gives you, the intense trust, the complete belonging..is something we humans can never find among our own kinds.
"It is better to have loved and lost..than never to have loved at all".
RIP, Gabriel. This is for you.
S&A, three things coming to my mind which without any delay in writing want to express. A. Gabriel has become part of my life, story was so touchy that it seems he was grown infront of me and died. B. Someone can really have a world as per he/she wants to be living in..may be created by himself/herself. In this case those kids in rain brought small kitten to give A&G a different 4yrs life experience with Gabriel.. Which they will cherish throughtout their life. C. A bow to S aunty for narrating and articulating so well..as after reading 'breaking point', 'once upon...' Became next to my favourite and close to heart, rather part of my life. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Abhishek. Pets add a new dimension to one's life..and the pain of losing them , a void that is hard to fill. But in the end, its all worth it! Because pets teach you to love- with all your heart and Care-with all your being. And these two lessons in life enrich all your other relationships:-)
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