COVID Diaries

A witty write-up on a rodent encounter during the pandemic has made me laugh. I laugh every time I read it and hence decided to share this with people I Know.

(C) Author: Jyoti Sheshan

In spite of the fact that it happened often enough, it continues to be an event in our house. Mom yelled out to me excitedly during her morning perambulations around the house, which was her equivalent to a morning walk, and I ran down fearing some kind of emergency.

She pointed to the rat trap. We had made a trip to Monda Market despite the notorious covid second wave and bought a capacious trap, so that the rat won't feel claustrophobic. Yes, we had been considerate to the hilt.

'It's a big one,' said mom gleefully.

I yelled for my husband to share the joy of rat-catching.

'It's a boy,' said mom. 'Look at the way it's running up and down the cage.

'It has eaten the cheese too,' I added. 'At least this rat won't be responsible for the increase in rodent population.'

Our neighbours peered down from their bedroom upstairs.

'You have to cut a few trees. The rats are coming due to your trees.' declared Mr.Ahmed.

'Even our bedroom is dark because of the trees,' he said.

The mango trees conflict was an old one but my mom was not to be cowed down easily.

'What about your palm trees? The rats hide their babies up there. Did you know that?' She demanded.

'Besides, their roots have crawled to our house and cracked the wall. Have we complained to you about it?' she asked.

In the midst of this, I wanted to get the facts right.

'Amma, who told you rats have babies on top of trees?' I enquired. 

'You keep quiet, ' she said. 'You don't know anything.'

'Madam,' continued Mr.Ahmed, 'that mango tree near your well is a mard... a boy. It won't give you mangoes. You might as well cut it.'

'How do you know the tree is a boy?' asked mom.

'Then how do you know that rat is a boy?' asked Mr.Ahmed.

At that point, our driver sauntered over to drive the rat to a far -away place before releasing it. He had to put in his opinion.

'Amma,' he said, 'this is ladki rat. It is quiet and listening to both of you.'

'You take it far away in the car. I don't want to know whether it is boy or girl.'

'Can you give me a thick piece of cloth?' asked the driver.

'What for?'

'I want to cover the cage so that it won't know where I am taking it. Then it can't come back.'

I thought it was a brilliant military manouver to confuse the rat. 

Mom produced an old towel and off went the rat for its joy ride. 

I smiled to myself. There was no dearth of entertainment in these covid times.