INTRUDER !

Chaitra and Mansi started shrieking loudly when they saw the intruder. The screams were now about to shatter our glasses and crystal ware when I ran from my bedroom to confront the intruder.He was a black and a scary one! I was surprised to see them shivering, perched on the sofa holding hands and hugging each other tightly. It was after all an ordinary rat! Seeing his size and a long tail to match his sharp spiky whiskers, I climbed on the sofa to join their yelling.Our house was under attack! We all were scared now and were thinking about the plan to drive him away. I armed myself with a broom and a stick to scare him but he was running like a rat possessed, helter- skelter and in circles taking a survey of our rooms like some prospective buyer in fast motion.I was eventually tired of this whole exercise and gave up.We all locked ourselves in the bedroom and slept off holding hands with a silent prayer on our lips.We all wanted him to go away to a far off place.
A plan was hatched and I bought a trap, kept a juicy cheese piece to lure and capture him.The very next day he fell for it and was caught,Sweet Victory for our family! We called our watchman and asked him to leave the rat away in a safe distant place so that we could sleep in peace.The battle was won,the enemy captured and treated with dignity. War ethics demanded that!
Mansi is a big animal lover and dead against violence. Even, the captive rat was fed soft bread crumbs lovingly by her and Chaitra. Mansi is also against Ratol, a rat poison which damages their liver and causes internal bleeding. I see a lot of suicidal patients taking this poison and getting admitted in our ICU, running a catastrophic course for long periods.We really put a lot of efforts for their recovery.
The rat is Lord Ganesha's official carrier and considered very holy by all of us, We lovingly call him Mooshaka! His entry in the house always brings good news to us, Let us be hopeful !