[Disclaimer
1: Any
resemblance to real cats and rats, living
or dead, is purely coincidental
[Disclaimer
2: Any resemblance to real men or women,
living or dead, is purely your imagination]
Location: Animal Kingdom
Venue: Rat
colony
Characters:
Leaders: One
senior-most rat head; Two assistant rat heads
Staff: 30
rats
Every Monday
morning the Cat visits his team that stays in another location. The agenda of
his visit depends solely on his mood. If he has a peaceful week, he’ll joke with
the rats, eat, drink and leave. Else, he sits by himself and leaves.
********************
One Sunday
evening, as the four rat heads were in deep slumber, they heard a thundering sound
at a distance. Irritated, they all rubbed their eyes and sat up. As the disturbance
persisted and the melee sounds increased by the minute, one of the junior heads
volunteered to check it out.
He stepped
out and began walking in the direction of the noise. From a distance he saw his
Boss – The Cat standing in the center surrounded by leaders of the animal
kingdom. All the leaders were animatedly speaking.
The junior
rat head strained his ears, from under the tree about 200 yards away. He feared
going any nearer. After a while of spying, he heard the mention of the name rat.
That’s it! He scurried back to his colleagues.
Panting and
ranting, he said: “We are in trouble. Our boss is being questioned… they are
blaming us ….something we did wrong...”
The four rat
heads jumped up wide alert.
“Why didn’t
you hang around until you learnt what the issue is? asked the worried senior-most.
“What if I was
caught spying? Why don’t you make a visit, sir. You have the authority?”
“I guess I know
what it’s about. The boss was talking of surprise checks by the King to all
colonies beginning next month. I’m sure they visited us last night while we
were asleep and found our colony dirty…”
“Why didn’t
you tell us senior-most?” shrieked rat head no. 1.
“Yeah, I would
have ensured the rats tidied up the place, but I didn’t know either,” said rat
head no.2.
“I would
have spared no effort in training all mice to behave well, only if I had known,”
sighed rat head no.1.
“Now what do
we do? The cat will surely torture us tomorrow,” cried the two rat heads. “I’m
already feeling sick,” said one, when senior-most snapped: “No one is falling
sick. I want both of you with me tomorrow.”
“Now both of
you go and ask your respective teams why they dirtied boss’s cabin and the visiting
area. We’ll discuss the matter in the afternoon meeting. We need a strategy by
the time the boss comes tomorrow,” ordered senior-most. “Ideally, we need to sack
at least one.”
***************************
Rat head no.
1 calls his staff for an urgent meeting and starts his monologue. “I have told
you numerous times, not to step into boss’s cabin or the visiting area. And if
you do, to tidy it up. The in-house colony rule says all of you are equally responsible
to keep both the places clean at all times…”
“We never go
there. You only told us not to venture into those places without you,” said
one.
“Yes, you
don’t have to remind me what I said. Now I want to know why you guys didn’t
clean up the place.”
“But when
did it get dirty. And how can we know it got dirty…”
“Shut up. All
of you will face the music tomorrow when the Big Boss comes,” said rat head no
1 and walked away.
*******************
Rat head
no.2 also calls his team for an SOS meeting. He just informs them that the Big
Boss is unhappy that his cabin and the visiting area were dirty when the King visited
the colony the previous night.
“So all of
you must be prepared for a dressing down tomorrow. If the Big Boss calls any of
you, please own up your crime,” he said and walked away without entertaining
any discussion.
*******************
The rats
huddle and gossip. Rats from team two tell others that the King had visited
their colony.
If they knew
the King was visiting, they should have told us, opined some. And all the
others nodded. When one of them said, “But who dirtied the places?”
“None of us
have access to the place,” said another.
“Exactly”, all
chorused.
“You know
what, I saw senior-most take his four friends there. They were all sitting and
boozing,” whispered Naughty.
“OMG! Were our heads there as well,” asked one
innocently.
“No those
two idiots were sleeping,” replied Naughty.
“But how can
you be so sure,” asked Wise.
“I had gone out
to pee, that’s when I heard some laughter. So I tip-toed and sneaked through
the door and I saw them. But listen, no one is telling them I was out that
night. We need to stand united.”
“Yes. Yes.
We are all united,” They said in chorus.
******************
Meanwhile,
the two rat heads met behind closed doors. “What do you think is the real issue?”
asked no. 1.
“Whatever
the issue, senior-most will try to blame us. We need to stand united,” asserted
no.2. “He is very dodgy when it comes to owning up,” he added.
“Let’s go
meet with him. We need to know how Big Boss can bring the King without telling
us. After all, it’s his prestige issue, as well.
*******************
Senior-most avoided
them the whole day citing various reasons.
The next day
Boss – The Cat arrived. The entire
colony was shrouded in an eerie silence. Senior-most followed his boss to the
cabin, as the two heads stood giving threatening looks at their teams.
“Give me a
few minutes, senior-most. I’ll call you. BTW, are all in today?” he asked.
Seeing senior-most
walk out, the two heads run to him.
“He’s real
serious. He wants to meet everyone. He asked me if all are in. Call everyone to
the lobby,” he said and walked towards his room.
Meanwhile, Slimy
slipped in behind senior-most and said, “How are you Sir?”
“Not fine at
all, Slimy. We are in deep shit.”
“I hear so, Sir.
But you know what that Naughty is spreading rumours about you. You should be
careful. I thought, I’ll alert you…”
****************************
Senior-most
gives a commanding look to the rats in the lobby. He said: “All those who were
on duty on Sunday will be penalized for not cleaning up boss’s cabin and the
visiting area.”
“But, we are
not allowed in there, Sir,” shouted out one.
“I don’t
want any excuses. Don’t you all know the rules of our colony? How many times
should I reiterate? When you see the places are dirty it is your duty to get it
cleaned. Your heads have a hundred other things to take care of. It is your
duty to inform them and ask permission to do the cleaning. Ultimately, it’s
your responsibility.”
“But how who
dirtied the place, Sir,” asked slimy cheekily.
“That’s
something I’ll tackle later. First I need to pacify the Boss before he blows
our heads off.”
“The rota
says Group 5 was on duty on Sunday. So I’m forced to suspend white mouse– the supervisor
of the group – for a week.”
“How can you
do this to me,” cried white-mouse.
“I was given
strict instructions by rat head no1 and 2 that I’m not supposed to cover Boss’s
cabin and visiting area because they are executive locations, and that the heads
themselves will take care of those places.”
“When did we
say that,” asked the heads in unison.
“Is that clause
written in our rule book, white-mouse,” asked senior-most.
“No sir.”
“Then what
audacity do you have to blame your heads!”
“Now please
go to The Boss and apologise before he summons you. Otherwise your arse is on
the firing line. Meeting dispersed.”
All scurry away
leaving white-mouse wondering what has befallen him.
As white-mouse
sat analyzing the events, Boss - The Cat passes by. Seeing him alone, he asked:
“What happened white-mouse. Aren’t you keeping well?”
“I..i..imm
ff fine Boss,” he shivered.
“Go tell
senior-most that I need to address the colony now. Rush,” Boss- The Cat said.
“Boss, I’m
sorry. I will see your place is neat at all times hereafter…please….”
The Cat cut
him short and said: “Oh! so you are in-charge of my cabin. I’m impressed. My
cabin is well maintained. Good job. Now rush and call everyone for the meeting.”
*******************
When Boss-
The Cat arrived at the podium, senior-most huddled beside and whispered, “Boss,
I’ve already taken action against the rat responsible for dirtying the place…”
“Don’t
involve me in such trivial matters, senior-most,’ The Cat spat and turned to
address the rats.
“Good
morning everyone,
“I will not
take much of your time. I know it’s early morning on a week day and all of you
are busy. I called to inform you that all of you need to be vigilant while
roaming out. There are rogues in the kingdom. The King and other colony bosses
are trying all their best to nab them. Meanwhile, it’s up to us to stay safe.
“Did you’ll
hear a thundering sound yesterday noon?” asked Boss – The Cat.
“Yes boss,”
chorused the rats, while the two heads glanced at senior-most.
“Well, as we
were holding our annual budget meeting under the banyan tree, a huge branch
fell down. Apparently it was half sawed. That’s when the Dog Boss said his
people have been complaining of thieves roaming around stealing wood. Luckily,
I managed with minimum injury.
“Anything
else you would want to bring to my notice?”
White-mouse got
up and asked: “Are verbal orders to be followed, because...”
“Sit down,
white-mouse. Boss- The Cat has no time for your stupid doubts,” yelled
senior-most and turned to The Boss and said: “Nothing, boss.”
“Good. Stay
safe. BTW, I have a bit of disappointing news. I know how eager you all are to
meet the King. The King was scheduled to visit our colony next month, but now the
plan is indefinitely postponed, until the thieves are caught.”
“Have a nice
day. And please be safe.”
Boss – The Cat takes leave. Senior-most escorts him to the door. The rats walk back abusing their
heads. The two heads sit back cursing senior-most.
*****************
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