For some reason, every time people in the house look into my eyes, I hear them say two syllables "See-lu". I hear it so often that sometimes I prick up my ears when I hear "See-lu". Once I start rolling my eyes to that sound, I hear more cooing toned sounds - many more that what I can keep track of. I had to develop another strategy to stay smart and I started following the tone of their voices. I love the fact that it always sounds softer and warmer when I am addressed.
Life was not a bed of roses and I mean literally "not a bed of roses". I loved the comfort of the soft mattress and pillows in the nights and was determined to sleep that way all the time. It was easier in the nights, when I used to hurriedly sneak into the room after drinking my milk. It was much harder in the day time when no one was using the bed. I was too short and a few failed attempts to jump over taught me better. Resigning to fate, I used to sleep restlessly on the carpet during the day until luck shone on me. With not much to do in the hotter hours of the afternoon, I was day dreaming when I hear a loud noise. I ran into the room and lo behold!! The bed had magically fallen down on two of its legs. As everyone else rushed into the room, I nimbly started climbing the bed. I could not lie down on a sloping surface but was quickly able to jump to the other bed now. As the people around watched me in amusement, I gave them a smuck look and closed my eyes tight before they pulled me down.
With a broken bed, they removed the mattress and rolled it up every morning. And one fine day, my discomfort with the heat of the day was also quenched by the skies opening up to my prayers. Not realizing I was getting finicky, after two days of downpour, I started complaining about the cold. In the nights, I could snuggle under the warmth of layers of blanket. In the mornings I went around the house in pursuit of layers of clothes until I found the rolled up mattress. Being tiny enough, I squeezed through the narrow opening into the darkness of comfort. Life can just be almost perfect when the semi sound proof cushions are coupled with warmth, darkness. Yes, I said almost. Despite the surrounding sound proof mattress, I started hearing hurried footsteps all around the room. I heard a muffled cry for "See-lu" once in a while and dutifully pricked my ears before settling into my sleep. And then the scooter started and I heard the spluttering engine leave the gates. I was contemplating to step out and look at the action, but my inexorable legs won the battle. The kids started scrambling around the room and I could see them bending low and looking under the bed and shelves. They seemed to know every place that I had treaded upon except this new found haven. Score! This game went on for a bit as I watched in amusement.
And then I saw the sari blocking the light into the mattress. Slowly someone unrolled the mattress from the top and the mom of the house let out a shriek of relief. Tears were running down her eyes as she scooped me into her arms and kissed me plentifully. I didn't complain realizing that she was pretty upset. After showering some love, she let me down - not on the floor but on the bed. I was elated as I saw them opening all the shelves which had clothes in the lowest shelf. For no apparent reason, the doors to my demands opened up.
Ceiloo had been home for a few weeks when one of the rickety cots that made up my parent's bed collapsed. Sentiments of paternal possession and mentalities of "fix and use" resulted in the collapsed bed being as is while the carpenter took his sweet little time to attend to it. Ceiloo masterfully used this time to maximize his comfort like he alwayd did in numerous other circumstances.
One fine morning, Amma found Ceiloo missing and there was havoc in the house. With Appa, Arvi and Venkatesh were driving in the streets of Kodambakkam in search of a tiny little dachshund, me and Amma were turning the house upside down in the quest of our most adorable family member. Admidst tears when Amma found him cuddled up in the mattress she realized that her initial nonchalance towards animals had been shattered the moment Ceiloo entered our lives.
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