The Encounter

It had the making of a perfect evening- early return from the office, 3 day long weekend ahead of me and quiet surroundings. I lay stretched on the divan in my hall with the lappy snuggling besides me and the latest Bollywood songs and updates crooning from the TV in the background and then something happened that made my evening.

I was engrossed in my work when for some reason I looked towards the kitchen and saw this four-legged creature confidently coming out of it and moving towards bedroom. For the initial few seconds I was too paralyzed with shock to react, and then instead of shooing it away, I picked up my phone and called up my roomie. I did not realize that while speaking on the phone my legs had automatically carried me out and I was standing right outside the flat of my neighbours and shouting at the top of my voice. Hearing my voice the next door aunty came out ......and did a quick surveillance of my look- so what.. if I was dressed up in shorts and a t shirt, my hair loosely hanging from my clip…the only thing that made me look austere was the specs- but heck I am not here to make an impression on her !! She heard the entire story and then gave a shout to her husband to help me.

Out came her husband from the room, and I confess that this was the first time I had a proper look at him since I shifted to this house. I could not help but run a comparison report on both the husband and wife. Lets start with the wife…she was a strong, tall and healthy women with dominance dripping from her every sound and now the husband- he was painfully thin, narrow moustache and neatly combed thinning hair. Decked up in a loose trouser and vest, carrying a stick the superhero of the evening entered my home with a smile on his face (who wouldn’t be excited to help a poor helpless girl). Bravely he entered the room and started hitting objects randomly so that it rushes out from whichever place its lurking. All this while I stubbornly stood in the hall and was prepared to jump on the centre table, if there was any suspicious movement. After a 10 mins non happening grueling search, he decided to give up and went back but not before adding sweetly that if I see anything or feel anything I am welcome to give a shout to him. CHO CHWEET!

I eagerly waited for my roomies to return from office. I relayed them the entire story and for our satisfaction we decided to have a final search. After a lot of nudging and pushing, they finally took it on themselves and had a look and found nothing. By this time I had started doubting myself….had I actually seen it..or was I hallucinating. But my dearie roomies were courteous enough to explain me that maybe it had escaped from the bedroom window. It kept on lingering on my mind till I went to sleep. I was so sure of its existence ….by the time I was closing my eyes…my fear had given its way to frustration..why it did not show up…. N the last thought before I dozed off…. ‘Oh you stupid cat ..i don’t care whether you exist or not but please do not disturb my blissful sleep”……zzzzzzzzzz