Saturday, 8 September 2012


RED ALERT!!!!!

This goes out to all the residents of the Girls Hostel! Please note that a high alert situation has been sounded in the hostel. And yes, it is a major cause for concern because…. We girls have a thief running loose amongst ourselves!
Around one foot high and two feet in length, with a complexion that rather borders on the dark, she goes by the name of Miss Miaow! A pair of piercing grey eyes, an air of nonchalance and an attitude to match, she cares two whiskers about the repercussions her thieving habits have on us poor girls.
Caught in the act by me one night when I was on my way to make myself a maggi dinner (paneer in the mess again, so you can imagine), I noticed someone stealthily picking up a packet of milk from the milk box and walking off with the packet in mouth. Slightly startled by the unexpected meeting, I took a closer look just to realize that the late night milk drinker was none other but the grey and white kitty that roams the hostels like Queen Sheeba!
Gathering my wits I raised an alarm but frankly, it was pretty much useless. Not an ounce of worry in her grey eyes, she just strolled off with the packet even as the guard made a half-hearted attempt to chase her. Further enquiry led me to some interesting facts regarding Miss. Miaow. Born in the Girls Hostel a couple of years back, Miss. Miaow and her 6 siblings reign over the hostels like it is their own personal territory (we are but intruders on their land!). Alternating between the Girls and Boys Hostel (wherever the supply of milk is more, I am guessing), Miss. Miaow is always on the lookout for a napping or absent guard. Seizing any and every opportunity that presents itself, she swoops in and grabs a packet of milk for her daily night cap!
No amount of chasing or yelling will bring back the robbed milk and her smartness is such that you will never find the slightest trace of the milk no matter how hard you try. She has the skills of an artful thief, making a tiny hole in the packet and sipping the milk through that at her leisure!
That night was pretty much the same story. Miss. Miaow disappeared with the milk without a trace and I have not seen her since (though I would not be the least surprised if I found her one chilly night warming milk at the hot plate!). My sympathies with whichever poor girl had to do without her hot cup of milk or tea or coffee that night!
All I can say is, “Girls… Beware. Keep a lid on all your saucepans! You never know when Miss. Miaow takes a fancy to visiting your room for a cup of warm milk!”


-  NAIRITA GHOSH

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