KETTY’S
STORY
Today
evening I saw my last sunset. I am inside my cage now. I know I had nowhere to
go. Outside and inside the campus, my fate is the same. Hence, I preferred my
cage.
I
know, a short while from now, my owner will come. Today, his childhood friend
is coming. There will be a feast. A party. Choiciest liquor will be served. It
will be topped up with delicious snacks. Served hot. Veg and Non-Veg both.
I
have performed my duty, done my dues in my life. Now, a short while from now, I
will do the same even when I am no more. They will serve me, piping hot,
garnishing me with some rare spices, exotically flavored. May be they will boil
me boneless. I don’t have much fat on me, so that part has no hassles.
Not
that my muscles are sagging. Not that I am not looking ugly. I am the same
cute-looking Ketty which I was when I came here freshly procured from the
market around a year earlier.
My
seller warned my owner during my purchase…”Brother Joe…look…the primary purpose
why you were paying so much for Ketty and why I have bargained so hard from you
do have a limit…once that gets fulfilled and exhausted…then??”
Brother
Joe smiled wickedly and winked…”Ketty will serve me…in life as well as death…”
I
was so happy to have some hope of getting a fresh lease of open air and a slice
of blue sky coming out of smelly, congested, blood and feacus infested
commercial enclosure that I did not take note of that exchange then.
On
hindsight, what could have I done had I even heard of it?? My fate would have
been the same…after all.
**
The
first six months were the golden period of my life. And I made the life golden
for my owner and his family.
I
was served the best of fodder, the tastiest of meal. I grew fluffy. I grew
cute. Joe’s tiny daughter Mary adored me. I caressed my beak against her soft
skin. She got tickled and giggled.
In
time, I used to get pressure in my ovary. In due time, I used to lay the eggs.
And the whole cage used to glow in a golden aura. Brother Joe, his security
guards used to guard the cage with their AK-47s fully loaded from the first
night when my spontaneous calls first rose. After I lay the eggs, Joe used to
be the first to enter. With eyes glittering in envy, greed, lust he used to
literally pounce on the wonders glowing at the corners of the nest.
“Jessusss….Holy Jessuss…the bas**ds were right…all pure 24 karats…and so
solid….and so clean…it’s a heavenly geese”
The
eggs used to vanish in his bag even before I can get some relief from my pain.
I blinked from the corner of my eye as I saw Joe, the guards, Joe’s wife and
his kids celebrated in joy. Sometimes so ecstatic they used to be that they
used to forget to feed me next morning. By noon when Mary used to venture with
my fodder, I used to be half-dead in hunger.
7th
month onward, the glow of the eggs started fading. It followed by a reduction
on the width of Joe’s smile. “It’ll be max 22 carats now…but still hard…22
should be harder than 24 anyhow….let me see how much it fetches in market…but
why it’s fading…??” He used to mumble and grumble. Still happy he was as after
all money was pouring in.
At
10th month, the glow almost completely faded. A strange silvery
color laced the eggs. Quality of my fodder also got deteriorated. Joe’s visit
in my cage became less frequent. Smile on his face vanished. Mary is no longer
visible.
And
in a sultry night of my 11th month here, I heard Joe’s wife
conversing with her hubby just outside the cage-enclosure while they took a leisurely
post-supper walk….
“How
long need we engage the cage-space with a non-productive, worthless geese?? Why
not go to the shop again and bring a new one, you old fool?? Why not get rid of
this dirty, useless, old, haggard worthless white chick, which has now got
exhausted of her golden stock?””
“Ohh…what
do ya think…?? Me a fool…?? Naahh..I already talked with Tom a week back…he
gave me a time for tomorrow night..actually this golden-egg laying variety
comes very rare and are in horrendous demand…people kill each other for them
when they are laying gold…so one or two he smuggles up here at the dead of
night…only for his trusted customers, beloved buddies..I being one of them….and
one such goldmine will land up right here tomorrow night…!!! Heh..!!!”
…”That’s’
why you called him up t’morrow for dinner..??”
“Yeah
my sweetie…got it bang on…at last something’s working inside your goddamned
skull..”
“Then
what shall we do with this dirty little bitch..???”
“What
do’u think of me..I’m not an asshole out here…she will be served as deliciously
aromatic kebabs drowned by our home-grown local brew..will chop & finish
her sometimes in early evening and clean up the cage. When Tom comes in late
evening, will put the new one in it. Will rear it again for next one year till
it lays the golden eggs. Once her quota finishes, will chop her to pieces.
Sweetie, in life they lay gold for us. In death, they will light up our belly.
How’s that…??”
“Honey…u’r
really a cruel li’ll a**hole…like u r in bed with me…I luv it..!!!”
**
An
ugly, screeching noise of the door of my kennel jolted me back to my present. A
slice of setting sun glanced thru’ beside the looming shadow with a chopper in
hand. I took a deep breath and for the last time, filled my lungs with the
sweet smell of moist earth wafting from outside. Hope this aroma remains in my
blood and flavors my slayers’ meal tonight.
Happy
supper to you all..!! With my golden eggs you had your wealth. With my meat
you’ll have your dinner..!!!
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