I should say the winter of 2008 brought a new light in my life. The light was in the form of a furry ball, whom I called Dupli. He was no more than two years old, when he forcefully started making his presence at my house time and again. And since I too loved animals I took him in. He added a new meaning of happiness to my household. He made me realize that a real home is never complete without an animal. My daughter was the happiest of all since now she had a playmate. Whenever she played with her kitchen set, he was always there to eat and drink whatever she had to offer. Year by year he started growing up into a sturdy cat, who never backed away even from a dog. He had so much attachment with us that he used to wait for us in the evening seated on the compound wall and the moment he heard the honk of our car, he used to come to the parking to receive us.
Although he was a sturdy cat, he was a bit lazy and never made an effort to perform his rightful duty, i.e, to catch mice. We used to tease him saying that he would be the only cat in the whole universe who was scared of mouse. But when he was in the mood to play, he would turn the house upside down and i had to literally chase him outside which was a bad idea indeed because, one day, when he was turned out of the house he didn't come home for almost 2 hours. I searched for him but he was no where to be found, and since it was lunch time, I sat down to have my lunch. After few minutes, I heard him meowing near the door. I got up and opened the door, and to my utter surprise there was a cat covered in mud. It took me few seconds to recognize him then, I had to leave my lunch half finished to bathe him. Such were the fond memories he left for us for he left this world on 3rd October, 2014. I exactly don't know how old he is, but I assume him to be nearly eight years old.
We were devastated by his sudden death as his death was not natural. 3rd October was a day for celebration but it was red letter day for me. The day began as any other day; I got up and found him meowing near the water filter. When i checked his cup, it was empty, so i filled it with water and after drinking the water he went downstairs to my mom's shop which was a daily routine for him. I was busy loading the washing machine when I got a call from my sister saying that Dupli was dead. I was shocked, my hands started shaking and while going downstairs, the only wish I made was to let it be a joke. But when I reached there, I saw him lying on the floor, without any movement and i could see traces of foam on his mouth. I just stood there staring at his dead body and couldn't even bring myself to touch him. I wanted to cry, but I controlled myself and put his dead body in a cartoon and came upstairs where I left go of my emotions. My daughter was not home when this incident happened, but when she returned and found out he was dead, she let out a heart-wrenching cry.
After an hour we decided to bury him. I took my niece and my daughter with me and drove away. They were seating in the back seat and still crying and touching him. So, i asked them not to touch him and the reply my daughter gave me made me cry even harder. She said."Please mummy, let me touch him because from tomorrow I will never be able to touch him again."
Later we came to know that he had consumed a poisoned food which one of our neighbors had kept for mice. A thoughtless act of my neighbor cost me my dear Dupli. And I am bewildered that this kind of people still exists. Don't they know that if that poisoned food was consumed by their kids who are not even 4 and 2, will kill them? How can they keep such stuffs when they have toddlers running around in their own house? I don't know whom to blame for my lose; should i blame Dupli for consuming the poisoned food? Should i blame the neighbors who kept it? Or should i blame myself for letting him roam freely? But no matter whom i blame or whom i accuse, one thing is for sure, I will never have my Dupli back. He will always be remembered and loved. And today also, I witnessed my daughter going to sleep crying and hugging the toy he used to sleep with. Dupli, wherever you are at the moment, you will always be remembered and loved. we miss you!
