By Niggy
I fell in love with Ginger—that’s what I call him—at first sight! Ginger is a gorgeous orangey-brown cat who hangs around in the neighbourhood. I once spotted him inside the compound of the apartment complex where I am presently staying, walking around majestically, sniffing at the parked vehicles and then disappearing somewhere else. I later discovered from a kid who lives here that Ginger is actually called ‘Secret’. Maybe that’s because his whereabouts are a top secret and he does not allow anyone to know where he goes and what he does the whole day!
I learnt a bit more about ‘Ginger’ or ‘Secret’ when I met Ajay, a very kind man, who, along with his wife, packs food in little bags and every morning comes around to the lanes here and serves it to ‘stray’ dogs and cats. They have been doing this act of service for years now, spending their own money and expending their time, out of their love and compassion for these creatures.
Ajay said that Ginger used to live in another lane and he had fallen ill, and so, a kind boy, Arjun who lives across the road, had brought him to his house and even helped Ginger with treatment. Since then, Ginger had been with this boy.
Ginger seems to recognize Ajay and his wife and as soon as they arrive, he begins meowing loudly, his meowing being melodious music to me. How it echoes through a big part of the neigbourhood!
I have spotted Ginger sitting on a wall or atop the electric meter box of a neighbour’s house, eagerly waiting for Ajay to arrive. Quite amazingly, while there are two ‘stray’ dogs who live on the stretch of the road nearby (who also get to eat the food that Ajay brings), Ginger is not at all afraid of them. He happily jumps down from the wall or wherever he might be then and stands very close to Ajay till his food is put out for him. Ginger very happily enjoys the morning meal that Ajay serves him. After that, he sometimes strolls into the apartment compound. Apparently, he needs no purrmission from anybody, he is free to go just where he pleases, with no rules like putting his signature… sorry, paw mark!…on the visitor’s entry book!
One day, I observed Ginger as he came inside the compound after his morning meal. He rolled about on the ground, probably to scratch his back, then groomed himself with his paws, and then went around sniffing the plants. After sometime, he must have heard Arjun open the gate on the other side of the road. He bounded across from the apartment compound, crossed the road and went straight into the compound of Arjun’s house. I found this so very touching. We ought never to ever think that only we humans are intelligent beings. Even a cat like Ginger recognizes familiar sounds and familiar people. Cats do sense those who love them.
Full marks to Ginger for this!
Whenever I see Ginger and observe him, I feel happy. I feel immense positive vibrations from him. He is so surrendered to the Almighty! After having his morning meal, he grooms himself and walks around with not a frown or worry on his beautiful face or any fear in his golden eyes about the next moment or the tomorrow! Ginger truly lives in the present moment, accepting it as it.
Recently, a friend was chatting with me, and in the conversation, my soft heartedness towards animals came up. While I may not be able to explain it fully to my friend or anybody else about my love and compassion for animals, one remarkable quality I find in animals is their complete compliance with the rules of God. They are pure hearted and intimately connected to God in their own way. In Ginger, I observed these qualities, and in many other animals too!
There are times I wish Ginger could stay with me! But Ginger is a free soul. He will wander around wherever he wishes. He loves jumping up and down the wall and nap anywhere he wants to...born free and wild. I would never want to imprison Ginger in an apartment, make him a sophisticated snobbish cat or compel him to abide by my rules and regulations.
Ginger is an adorable cat with a golden heart. His happy-go-lucky nature, being surrendered to God 100 percent, is something we humans can learn from. Hats off to Ginger and to his lovely lifestyle!
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