Shunki Popi... Shunka...
R.I.P
We lost our pet of 13 years.. 2 days back.... and my mind has been a mess... devastated.. muddled.... sad. This blog should help me reflect on all that he meant to us.. in a comprehendable manner.. though of course.. there are no words to gauge / express how much he did for us and me.
13 years is a long time..and even though the last 5 years have been spent away from him..cuddling him only on those weekends at home... he's never been away in my thoughts for more than a day.. each day's prayers included family members & shunki... That was the only way I learnt to be close to him...to not miss him too badly.. by sending him my kiss everyday... till now there was a definite address for that kiss to land on.. so to say... now i wonder where to send it..
To all those who knew him..or came across him even once.. they all knew he was no ordinary cat.. He had a mind of his own.. his attitude.. likes & dislikes.. He was more human than most people i know.. and it took time to crack his indifferent exterior to get some loving out of him :)
All our attempts at training him.. ( He was our mini dog/ cat - He sometimes had an identity crisis himself !! ) resulted in him learning 2 words in English.. "Fishhhhh " preferably in my dad's loud grizzly voice and "Shunka" when we were calling out to him .. desperately trying to locate him in the compound!! Anything more than that was simply not required to be learnt -according to him.. !! So try as we might.. he had a mind of his own..
To think that the Vet had proclaimed him to be terminal with ulcerative colitis when he was only a few months old.. and to literally have exhausted all his 9 cat lives.. maybe some extra too.. and live for 13 years seems like a miracle in itself.. in retrospect.. but still its really difficult to believe that I wont get to cuddle him the next time I go home.. it must be so empty at home...
All my college friends..even those who were only acquaintances have heard of him .. seen him.. meowed him.. laughed at his non-cat like antics ... and asked about him every time they spoke to me hence.. Difficult to ignore him.. and not like him.. everyone always patiently heard my stories too... coz I always had so many of them about him... My all time favorite boyfriend..
He sat up with me when I studied for my entrance exams.. both times... he tolerated my whining and never left when I was crying.. He loved my rajai as much as I did.. same goes for my bed ! He had his own bean bag too ! Who could have asked for a better partner.. especially coz he could not talk back !! I always wonder what he would have said.. or how much things would have changed .. if he could talk... More memories? More episodes to remember? Is it possible to miss someone anymore.. ?
His excited eyes when he would hear the sound of a plastic bag.. maybe with fish in it.. or the cracking of a boiled egg.. to his boredom at our antics.. trying to get him to play like a dog.. and his uninterested stare - like he was telling us to wrap it up and behave like adults..
His aversion to cold milk.. or milk which was only a few hours old.. His penchant for hitching a ride in the lift with the other residents of the building.. His circus in the car while going to the vet.. His circus in the bathroom while trying to give him a bath..and the cold shoulder for 2 days after it .. His loud meows asking us to open doors.. announcing his arrival or departure... His knack of making dad stop doing office work at home by sitting / sleeping on his papers.. sitting in front of the tv to gain attention.. getting us headless pigeons or rats for breakfast.... these and many many countless memories to live by.. and smile at..
Teaching me so many things..by not saying a word... Showing me what unconditional love was.. to only give.. and for showing me that I was capable of it... Shunka is loved and hugged every single day.. every moment .....
Thank you for coming into our lives.. and making it so much more livable.. even though its difficult to believe that you are no more.. You had a purpose .. in our lives.. and I'm hoping that what all those spiritual guides say is true.. That you will always be connected to us.. and come back soon.. :)
Love you always & forever,
One of your mommies.
Shunka is somewhere over the rainbow....I am sure ur kisses will reach him. Take care deepti!!
ReplyDeleteMy baby... Shunki.. Rest in Peace..,
ReplyDeleteI ll always remeber tht day.. wen i picked you up.. as a 1mnth kitty. Never knowing the long, deep connection We were to have. .. N now.. ur gone.. I cant imagine I live in this houz.. and ur not in the nxt room.. cuddling into the curtain... Sumtyms I jst luk at the curtain these days.. wishing I wasnt luking into an empty space.
From being key in my career decision to being the one I could never treat/ cure.. He has been the one.. to teach me so much..
I remember every look.. from the first.. wen He used to fit in my one palm.. luking at me for warmth and comfort... To the last... Proding me to be strong.. to not cry while I Let go of his tiny frail hand.... I remember every look... every emotion.. as if it were jst yesterday..
But I dnt want this blog to turn out to b a sad one.. so I ll turn back tym..
My Shunki was... a cat wid an amazing attitude... wat a Persona !!
You never think a lazy cat wud really throw ur mind out for a spin... From playing wid paper rats.... to rejecting every toy I recently gave him.. with a ''Do I luk so naive to you'' look...
From refusing fiercly to sleep anywhr but between our legs.... prohibiting us from moving half an Inch... To scaring the shit out of us by going missing for a day.. onli to be found in a dark hole in the building....
From being the most irritant to Dad.. wen he was sneaked unknowingly into the house.. to becoming more dear than US to Dad... who cudnt go thru a single moment widout knowing whr shunka is....!!!!!
From comprehending exactly TWO words... FISSHHH and PAAKIIISSSS!! (dnt ask me wat the later means.. i dnt kno!) .... To understanding All of our emotions.. our tears.. and our fears...
His utmost love towards freshly washed clothes... wich he used to soil by pasting all his fur on them...... and his utmost aversion to licking himself...
Have You ever seen a cat tht DOES NOT want to lick himself.... Day after day he wud sit in his own dust... waiting for sumone else to clean him up!!! Gossshhh!!!
His hiding places were the best i wud say....Who wud think of luking in the underlining of the sofa wen a cat goes missing.... but well!! As innovetive as Shunka was... He had ripped the lining ... and made himself a nyc little cave.. and Maannn!!! Was he a Hoarder!!!! We wud not onli find him... but all the sall stuff.. like paper rats.. and carpet pieces in thr.. All His playthings...
And the odr one??.. the curtain... Pressed up ryt btwn the curtain and the window pane... making himself a cradle.. If You ask me.. Shunki was an Architect in his previous life...
Just as He was the Architect in our lives.....
Master Shunka Rao... From giving Ma company and comfort.. all those years wen Dee n me were out of the houz.......... To lending Us the tiniest bit of ur tym in bed.. wen we were In for a visit......
Thank You my Love....! You' ve filled our lives wid Immense Love.. Light... Laughter... and crazy Luck...
I wud do anything to have U back.. plz come soon.... I dint plan out this tym.. widout you in the house... I cnt get ovr it..... Plz Come soon... We are waiting! :)
I kno U are thr.... in tht soft cloud above the house.... luking at us Idiots crying.... ;'p
Love you Forever,
One of your mommies!
Plz dnt mind the speeling errors... i really cudnt see very much past the tears!
DeleteApologies,
Swathi.
@ mansi - Thanks.. now I have an address :)
ReplyDelete@swathi - Very very lovely post...just refreshed my memory again on his initial times :) Thanks...
ReplyDelete