Catch Me if you can, Challenges Intruder Rat

One of my 20th floor residents reported in Telegram last week that he had detected a rat in his house. “Thank God, not on my 19th floor,” I heaved a sigh of relief. That statement, be it manasa, vaacha or karmana, was just not acceptable. And I paid the price. 

The rat probably heard me and promptly relocated himself or deputed one of his siblings to make 3195 his home. So here I am handling an uninvited guest, much to the neglect of an eagerly awaited visit of my own daughter-in-law. She stopped over from US coincidentally just for those very three days. Her boutique, shopping and other visits went haywire as she had to give a helping hand with Operation Rat. She and aunty with brooms raised, and I with stick with half power already released were ready to pounce on the invader – a la a predator and a prey in Animal Kingdom channel.

It was evening.  A co-resident visited us to say hello to my d-i-l with a packet of Calicut halwa.  The chat was warming up, and to make it warmer, Mami walked up to the kitchen to make some tea/coffee only to rush back. “Oh, there is a big rat speeding past underneath the sofa,” she shouted and ordered me to open the front door to let it escape. No, it had resolved to stay back and, instead, made an about-turn to hide below the covered kitchen sink area. 

The visiting lady rushed to the lift with Sunita to Ratnadeep to buy Mortein-cake meant to catch the rat. Hari and Geetha just then stepped out of the lift. Hearing this, they rushed to our flat to help us. Hari brought a torch-light and started peeping through places to spot it. They seemed experienced. “Yes, we have dealt with several of them successfully in MS Palya and Jaya Nagar,” Geetha patted herself on her back. Hearing the commotion our recently-shifted neighbour, Raghushankar and wife Rajani, rushed in. They reaffirmed their services, as soon as we spot the rat - day or night. “Just give a gentle blow with the broomstick, it will go unconscious,” he said and began explaining the scientific reasons, for which I could hardly lend my ears.

With no luck in sight till the next morning, we called the pest control guy. Simultaneously we ordered for a ‘same day delivery’ mouse trap. Meanwhile we bought some gum-boards meant to attract rodents and get stuck. We kept some bread crumps on them, additionally. Next morning the crumps were missing, and so was the rat. It just left its footprints to express its gratitude for the dinner. 

The next night also it visited, without getting caught. But a never-say-die, we persisted with our efforts, this time reinforced with rat-trap. Also, in the customary prayer before going to bed, Mami made a special request to Lord Ganesha, “Oh Lord, please persuade your Mooshika Vahanam, to get into the rat-trap. We swear we will not harm him, but will leave him safe way beyond Turahalli forest, sure of greener pastures. With our frugal food habits, 3195 may not be the supreme abode for him to spend the rest of his life.” The prayer was answered.  

It was just 4 am. But we could no longer wait till the day broke. We made our way slowly to the kitchen and were the happiest couple in the world to see the rat trying to hide himself within the cage. Had we been a little younger, we would have jumped with joy. Not any longer. With extra care we shifted the trap from kitchen to the balcony where we kept it for public view (read: neighbours’ view) till 8 am this morning.

At 8 on the dot,  in a Red Wine Grand I-10 car, 2013 model, escorted by two gents and two ladies with only a military band not in attendance, began the farewell journey in slow motion to bid him adieu at Turahalli, hopefully for ever. 

The last minute fright. As we released him pointing to the forest, he turned towards us instead as though to jump back into the car. Probably not, but just to say thank you. 

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