Rat - A - Tat

Last morning, Better-Half asked me why I left the drain cap in the bathroom open.

I was like “Eeewwww, I didn’t open it”.

We then asked the maid & she said she never went anywhere near it for the past 2 days.
Thanks lady, for letting us know the germs are having a field day out there.
Anyways, we knew the kids didn’t do it.

Then how did it……..?????
Huh…all of us simultaneously looked at each other in horror….Rats!!!!!!!!!!!

It was not unknown for rats to turn up, though very rare. The last time one entered was 8-9 yrs ago but that time the parents were around & they had dealt with it.

A moment later we heard a noise from behind the bathroom door. Husband opened the door cautiously but the coast was clear. But…the drain was open again. The suspicion was confirmed. A rat stole in by pushing the drain cap upwards, landing onto the bathroom floor.

Well there was no time for high hysterics as we were already late for work so the drama was adjourned for the time being. Strictest instructions were given not to use that bathroom until further notice.

Later in the evening we found the drain cap out of place again. That did it. We cant live in fear for the rest for our lives, can we?

“I’ll call pest control” decides Husband.

“Ok” agrees the dutiful wife supportively. No way was I going to get involved with anything to do with rats. Leave the experts to deal with it.

“Pest-control???? What for???? I’m here….all my neighbours used to call me when they found a rat in their house” said maid indignantly as if we cast aspersions on her honour.

I looked at her with new found respect.

Now the Maid was in charge, the master of the house & I meekly followed her instructions.
The sticks supporting the plants were pulled out to beat the rat with.
Water was boiled to flush the rat out.
An old, rusted rat trap which was co-owned by everybody in the building was brought in.

The maid wanted to fix Tapioca as bait coz rats are supposed to love it.

I was like “Well no tapioca at home, lets fix a banana”

Nikita piped in “I have an idea….lets keep cheese”.

All 3 of us turned & looked blankly at her.

Nikita explains exasperatedly “Don’t you know…….they love cheese”.

“Quiet, go to the living room & stay there” instructed her father, irritated.

Maid still looked blank, went on to fix the banana inside the trap.

Meanwhile a conversation was happening animatedly 2 meters away…

“Good Idea, Chechi*, I’m sure it will come & eat the cheese” said Naina supporting her sister's idea.

“Then Papa can catch it & give it to us” responds Nikita.

“Yes, then he’ll be our pet & we’ll call him Jerry” continues Naina.

Husband & I exchanged exasperated looks & went back to helping the maid to prepare for war.

Finally armed with enough ammunition she set out…..I assured her my complete support & firmly shut the bathroom door on her from outside.

All was quiet for 5 minutes, then after much thrashing, again all was quiet. I cautiously opened the door & found the maid looking into the laundry basket & the aiming the stick carefully to fatally injure the rat.

“Wait” I cried. “Don’t kill the rat. Catch it alive & we’ll throw it out.”

Maid looked up confused.
In that split second the rat jumped out & escaped with its dear life back thru the drain-pipe which the maid had forgotten to block.
Maid was so upset…..she almost had it in the bag…in this case the laundry basket.
And the Husband looked murderously at me, his hands itching to do what he wanted to do to the rat.

“Ummmm…..I didn’t want my favourite laundry basket ruined” offered Nancy lamely.

Later as I was settling into sleep, I remembered something & grinned to myself.
Better-Half arched his eyebrows inquiringly.

In my daughter’s voice I repeated “I have an idea….lets keep cheese”.

We burst out laughing.

*Chechi – Elder sister in Malayalam