Size doesn’t matter. A little kitten challenges a big dog, an image that stays with Pragya. Here’s a story of a little kitten, exclusively for Different Truths.

I can’t get her out of my mind, my new-found follower. How could I disappoint her so? How could I just leave her alone, while I returned to the safety of my home? Her light brown piercing feline eyes are still following me around. It’s been four days and I don’t know what became of her? Is she still meowing around, cosying up to other people or becoming the lunch of a bigger carnivore? 

Every morning, after my slow jog, covering the footpath following the boundary wall of Victoria memorial, I sit on a wooden panelled bench with carved metal Victorian hand rest on both sides. I love relaxing there under the shades of an old banyan tree, that gives us oxygen 24*7, that nestles pigeons, crows, starlings, also some exotic birds, I have never seen before, and I am no expert to spell out their names.

Victoria Memorial 

I sit facing Victoria Memorial, the footpath opposite to the main gate. Here tourists and locals usually stop their cars, bikes, and cycles to take selfies. The memorial is a background for keepsake or social media updates. I keep my mask and hand towel on the bench. And I start with my body warm-up exercises and stretches head to toe, followed by Pranayam. 

Just as I start with my head rotation that day, I get startled seeing a little kitten. It appears from nowhere near my feet. I jump off a little for a second but regain composure seeing the little ones’ nervousness too. I am no animal lover. One who would start petting any street dog or cat. I am the kind who would change paths seeing any of these in my way. Today, I didn’t change my bench or shoo her away. She was so cute and pretty. I simply moved a little further away from the bench (and the kitten).

Once I finished with my hand and body stretches and two rounds of 20 squats each, she got relaxed a little bit. She curled up into a soft white furry ball, eyeing me every few seconds. And secretly I did the same. As I moved to another tree’s raised platform for my leg stretches, she quietly entered my leg space startling me again. Gosh! My feet could have landed on her little delicate figure, crushing her flat. 

Generally, I was in a meditative state, while working out but I was disliking the feline disturbance that day. So, I quickly walked back to the bench to finish with my Pranayam and leave. 

A Kitten or a Tigress

Just as she realised my absence, she started trotting back towards me. A man walked past me with his pet dog, a Dalmatian, with black spots on white body. The dog advanced towards her midway, barked at her. And this little, tiny kitten suddenly stretched her legs and body ten times up, wide, screeching aloud with an open mouth like a tigress. With its mouth wide open, boasting of tiny sharp teeth. 

She became stiff and straight, both with shock, scared and trying to scare, standing up to the dog. This site of the tiny creature transforming into a tigress was unforgettable. It was imprinted on my mind forever. What a brave little one. Felt so proud of her. She returned to my feet again, once the dog was out of sight.

She cuddled and cosied up near my feet, feeling safe once again and dozed off. I soon ended my breathing exercises by rubbing my palms together and then covering my eyes with my warm palms. With a little prayer of gratitude, I got up, dusted my tracks, my T-shirt straight, waking the kitten from her nap. She too got up looking coyly at me, expecting me to pick her up. But I was getting late. And I just walked away…

Visuals by Different Truths

Pragya Gupta

Pragya Gupta is an actor, poet, jewellery designer, social entrepreneur, and founder, ‘TINESSA’ – designer diamond jewellery brand. Also, founder of ‘Blood Warriors’, a support group ‘By & For’ Thalassemia patients and parents. Repertoire member, The Creative Arts Academy, an all-women theatre group. It has performed in award winning plays, nationally and internationally. Her short film, ‘A Date with the Unknown’ received the Best Thriller Award by FICCOC, Venezuela, in 2018.