It was when I was reading The Cat and Shakespeare, the memory of Chukku came back to me. As I was reading the book, sitting peacefully amidst the State Library's British Library Collection, surrounded by infinite books-ancient and modern- and the two centuries old architectural wonder of the building, I saw Chukku staring at me peacefully from one of those shining corners of my memory. Smiley. I simply choose the book, just to pass time, yet with a lot of prejudices. Raja Rao and his philosophy. Oh, hell no! I am not going to digest this. But it was a delight to read about the city where I live, where I belong. Trivandrum. Smiley. I didn't even finish the first quarter and I got the call from a friend who was waiting for me, near the pond Padmatheerdham-for shopping, and I decided to read the book later. With no spare card, I had to leave the book on the shelf itself. So, I ask to those who read the book. Is there a real cat there in the book? And, from where does Shakespeare come to the scene? Anyway, the mere mention of a cat in the title reminded me of Chukku. Chukku was the house cat of Akka Mahadevi Hostel of EFLU (Hyderabad) during 09-10. It was our second year of MA and to us she came. Us, a bunch of crazy, intelligent, beautiful ladies. Colon and the alphabet P.
It was Jyothika who bought her from the Blue Cross people and she was placed in a card board in Bhagi's room. As I came back to hostel around 8.30 after dinner, I heard about the cat story. Oh My God! I thought. I was scared of cats. Prathyu's mom used to keep all her cats away whenever I informed her that I am coming. That was in high-school. Ammu loves cats. When I went to her home, her cat Peppy stared at me from a distance. I stared back. I think, I think, I tried to touch her. And now, in the hostel, a cat! I knew that many of us adore cats and would love to have one around. I went to see the kitten and believe me, that was love at first sight. Chukku became one of us.
She used to sit on Ammu's laptop, used to make fun of Mahi and also used to wet Koel's bed. I still remember someone accusing Koel of squeezing Chukku. But, obviously, that was her way of showing affection. It's Bhagi who gave her name, Chukku. She was ginger coloured and 'Chukku' means ginger powder. Chukku used to wake Vrindu early in the morning. She loved Henna's warm ironed clothes. Ruchi, Resh, Asha, everyone just loved her. We used to look after her in turns. The cafeteria system of EFLU really helped Chukku. She was always pampered and what not, she became famous. In the entire campus. Smiley.
Boys, too used to come, just to see her. And then she started going to the boys hostel. Rumors were that she was going out with a tom cat in the Basheer Hostel. Well, after all we brought her up, in EFLU. Nonetheless her mummys were really really upset when she goes on missing. But, she used to come back after every 'missing episodes'. We never opened the fridge in her presence, lest she should jump inside. She challenged one of the doggies and the furious dog chased her to the terrace and when we saved her, she made fun of the doggy, acting as if she is going to jump. Oh! The things she had done! Chukku, the bravest!
As usual, one day she had gone missing. We were not bothered. We knew that she would come back. We attended classes, had breakfast, lunch and dinner. Yes, we had dinner and she was not yet back. Some went to the Basheer hostel. Guys said that they didn't see her. We took a stroll in the campus. She was nowhere to be found. Some went to the construction sight to make sure that she was not trapped. She was not trapped. We had our endless, fruitless wait. We damn missed her. I used to hear her cries for help at times. But that was just an illusion. One day I was washing my clothes and I heard a meow. I ran out of the bathroom. I saw Resh coming out of the other bathroom saying that she too heard a meow. A search team was formed in vain. That was not Chukku. But from where did we hear her cries? Many of us, in fact, at different times. But, that was just an illusion. The entire campus mourned her absence. Sigh! She never came back. Days passed. We were done with our MA. We packed certificates and memories and caught trains and flights homeward-bound.
Some of us came back for M.Phil. We still heard rumours, that Chukku is around. Some random cat came to Sravasti and licked her fingers, some random cat was found in the International guest house, some random cat was found in Maithri cafeteria. We couldn't recognize her, as she was big in size. I was never good at identifying cats. Those who are good at it refused to believe that it was Chukku. After all, if it was Chukku, she should recognize us. We fed her with love, not just milk and biscuits...
Was that an emotional post? I couldn't help it. Reader, I apologize. Wink wink. You want to see our dear Chukku? The pic is from Chandrika's photo album.This is one of the breakfasts we arranged for ourselves. And did you see, towards the right end, just below the glass windows, Chukku lying down, enjoying the sunlight? Wink wink. That is our Chukku... :)
It was Jyothika who bought her from the Blue Cross people and she was placed in a card board in Bhagi's room. As I came back to hostel around 8.30 after dinner, I heard about the cat story. Oh My God! I thought. I was scared of cats. Prathyu's mom used to keep all her cats away whenever I informed her that I am coming. That was in high-school. Ammu loves cats. When I went to her home, her cat Peppy stared at me from a distance. I stared back. I think, I think, I tried to touch her. And now, in the hostel, a cat! I knew that many of us adore cats and would love to have one around. I went to see the kitten and believe me, that was love at first sight. Chukku became one of us.
She used to sit on Ammu's laptop, used to make fun of Mahi and also used to wet Koel's bed. I still remember someone accusing Koel of squeezing Chukku. But, obviously, that was her way of showing affection. It's Bhagi who gave her name, Chukku. She was ginger coloured and 'Chukku' means ginger powder. Chukku used to wake Vrindu early in the morning. She loved Henna's warm ironed clothes. Ruchi, Resh, Asha, everyone just loved her. We used to look after her in turns. The cafeteria system of EFLU really helped Chukku. She was always pampered and what not, she became famous. In the entire campus. Smiley.
Boys, too used to come, just to see her. And then she started going to the boys hostel. Rumors were that she was going out with a tom cat in the Basheer Hostel. Well, after all we brought her up, in EFLU. Nonetheless her mummys were really really upset when she goes on missing. But, she used to come back after every 'missing episodes'. We never opened the fridge in her presence, lest she should jump inside. She challenged one of the doggies and the furious dog chased her to the terrace and when we saved her, she made fun of the doggy, acting as if she is going to jump. Oh! The things she had done! Chukku, the bravest!
As usual, one day she had gone missing. We were not bothered. We knew that she would come back. We attended classes, had breakfast, lunch and dinner. Yes, we had dinner and she was not yet back. Some went to the Basheer hostel. Guys said that they didn't see her. We took a stroll in the campus. She was nowhere to be found. Some went to the construction sight to make sure that she was not trapped. She was not trapped. We had our endless, fruitless wait. We damn missed her. I used to hear her cries for help at times. But that was just an illusion. One day I was washing my clothes and I heard a meow. I ran out of the bathroom. I saw Resh coming out of the other bathroom saying that she too heard a meow. A search team was formed in vain. That was not Chukku. But from where did we hear her cries? Many of us, in fact, at different times. But, that was just an illusion. The entire campus mourned her absence. Sigh! She never came back. Days passed. We were done with our MA. We packed certificates and memories and caught trains and flights homeward-bound.
Some of us came back for M.Phil. We still heard rumours, that Chukku is around. Some random cat came to Sravasti and licked her fingers, some random cat was found in the International guest house, some random cat was found in Maithri cafeteria. We couldn't recognize her, as she was big in size. I was never good at identifying cats. Those who are good at it refused to believe that it was Chukku. After all, if it was Chukku, she should recognize us. We fed her with love, not just milk and biscuits...
