Jilapi is a Kitten: Nuzhat Nuery Hossain

Engines roared loudly as vehicles picked up speed after about twenty minutes of waiting impatiently. Pedestrians walking, chatting, rickshaw pullers yelling and motorbikes zipping from between cars and busses, everything depicted the beginning of yet another chaotic day in Dhaka city. Signature heat and humidity in Mohammadpur's air were too harsh to handle. The sun remained stubborn and merciless as it should in the afternoon. The odor of sweat, dust, hot exhaust fumes knocking into pedestrians' faces as they curse at the city's atmosphere, beggars calling out, but one thing stood out amidst the situation. A biker and a car driver engaged in a physical argument, which caught Jilapi's attention.

She stirred awake, her little gray eyes squinting to adjust with the heat and pollution around. She yawned and stretched, glancing towards the brawl, then looked around. Everything looked enormous and complicated. Pedestrians walked by, their steps seemed like strides. Some smiled at her, to some she held not more value than a pebble. Their ability to cover large distances within seconds always amused her. She couldn't help but wonder why she needed twice the effort with her tiny limbs. Then it dawned upon her. She looked around frantically and called for her mother. She was nowhere to be seen.

Jilapi knew to wait and not panic. The sun moved further west and was about to set. No sign of her mother. The poor kitten wailed. Many looked at her sympathetically, many grinned at her fate. When would her mother arrive? Before she could wait any further, she felt herself being lifted and her tiny limbs dangling in the air. She called out for help loudly, screaming with whatever strength she had left after a whole day of starvation. The street children carried her many blocks away and set her down, giggling their way back.

The place was unknown. Her mother must be looking for her. She didn't know the way back. What to do? She sat and licked her limbs. It was dark now. She found a local eatery, waiting for anyone to throw something to eat. Shingara's folded end, wet edges of paratha, bay leaves, and whatever scraps people threw were sufficient for her. Her mother never came. The sky thundered and broke down in rain. Jilapi ran under a shelter where people seemed to be waiting. But Alas, a dog barked to shoo her away. The kitten ran away from the bus stand.

After a few minutes as she kept calling for her mother, she saw a human approaching her. No matter wherever she fled they caught up with her. When she could hide no more, they picked her up gently and wrapped her in a towel.

Days passed since she had been staying with this kind lady. The kitten now responded to the name, Jilapi, given to her by the lady. She gave her food, water, and a warm shower. And you know what's best? The lady had several other cats as well. Some were young as her, some were older. The woman identified Jilapi to be one of those shy and scared kittens. She befriended other cats with great difficulty.

After about a month or two, the lady took her for a ride again. But she didn't know that it was going to be the last time she would see the warm home and her friends. The lady carried her up to the middle of a footpath and set her down. She then ran back to her car with Jilapi running behind her. The car sped away, leaving Jilapi alone. Jilapi waited under the hot sun, amidst the noise and air pollution and many vehicles and pedestrians. She knew the lady would soon return and cuddle her again. Humans are very good. If she could have taken her home almost a year ago when she was dirty and cold, she must have no trouble in carrying her home now again when was properly bathed and fed. Jilapi had to wait for the woman to come back.

The story above depicts a cat's life. I chose to write about Jilapi as I know a cat going through it. Her name, Jilapi, was assigned to her by the woman who rescued her from the street. Luckily, the lady had a shelter that took care of Jilapi along with other cats. Jilapi was put up for adoption, her picture and information were uploaded to all the possible websites. No one adopted her. Hence she was spayed by a vet and then left on the streets again.