Bangalore and Rats. Probably you may remember Bangalore and Gardens? Not in 21st century.
Blocked drainages, Yes. Home for Rats. Roadside food vendors. Yes. Food for Rats. Garbage around every corner. Yes. Cloths for Rats. What do you get in return for all that generosity? Nothing.
Sort of Roti, Kapada aur Makaan (Food, Cloths and Shelter) for Rats. Okay, I made it clear now I am talking about real four-legged rats, not the two-legged ones!
To put you in the right perspective: Yes, I rescued a Rat. Four-legged one? Yes. But why? How? For what purpose? Read on.
It so happened, thanks to our punctual BWSSB in cutting off the water supply, our sump tank went almost dry. BWSSB would win an Olympic gold medal, if there is one, for: the continuous number of days they can keep your taps dry.
Well, I thought, of making the best use of it to get the sump tank cleaned.
I left a little bit of water as advised by the cleaners at the bottom of the tank and pumped the rest to the overhead tanks. but, forgot one thing – to close the sump tank hatch door after checking the water level. Mistakes are costly. But in Bangalore, they are not only costly but also punishable by rats – yes, by the four-legged ones first and the two legged ones later.
Noticing that the hatch door open and noticing a stick sticking out the door, one of those ever curious rats must have decided to take a swim in the tank. I am not sure how he knew that the water was not too deep for him to drown. They are smart! I was horrified to see him swimming. This little fella is very daring – to take a swim in a private swimming pools, and, without prior consent by the owner? I decided to teach him a lesson. I told him that he will be caught by the people who come to clean the tank. He was not listening.
Few hours later, I was suddenly jolted by a thought – a thought of a dead rat in the tank – which could also mean getting my money sucked out dry by the cleaners. No. I was not ready for this double dip. But the rat in the tank taking a dip was not bothered. He was still swimming around. He was showing all sorts of tricks in the water – trying to put on a show for me! What an audacity!
I thought l should find some way to get him out of there to dry himself out before cleaners arrive. Even though the mouse-hunt was an easier task in this case, trying to get him out of the tank was exasperating.
He would not budge. I tried plastic rods at different angles for an easy climb out, I tried wooden tree branches for a firmer grip and even dangled a coconut from a string to lure him. No success. Then he scared me by playing dead!
But wait, may be it was for a minute or so to catch his breath, he played dead. He was on his way once again. He surely would have put marathon Olympic swimmers to shame – he had been swimming in the tank for almost six plus hours!
I thought enough is enough. I got an idea of preparing a boat for him to climb on and take a break. Then sweep him off his feet and off his private swimming pool. Found a plastic basket, let it down from a string and scared him to jump into that by starting up the motor.
That worked! He got rescued. What surprised me the most was that he did not even stop for a second to say thanks before sprinting off!
However, I heard him saying that Bangalore is home for his big family and he may visit the pool later, I was only wishing that he will avoid visiting with his big family.
I tell you, he is one hell of an audacious little fella! May be he will narrate his side of the story to his family – not that he got rescued by me, but how he made me fret.
Moral of the story: If you rescue one, be ready to receive more than one.