Those who know my split personality would recognise that grumpy half of mine under the academic hat. The University for which I work has well-behaved students—well behaved to an extent that the corridors could be eerily silent. Climbing up the stairs next to the elevator, I often wish that the corridors had some life—the chatters, cacophony, and thud-thud of footsteps expected from an academic institution. But, the corridors remained calm, reeking of the same eerie silence. 

But things changed one day, and the corridor suddenly sprung to life. That was a stray ginger kitten whom I learnt later to be named as Dr. Oli by the staff and research assistants who adopted her as the Faculty pet. Dr. Oli was slow to grow in size, but grew faster in stature. She became the fulcrum of the corridor, always at the centre of attraction, surrounded by staff and students. The staff and students were her fans who pampered her with treats and a little cardboard house (pic). 

My relationship with Dr. Oli was a ‘long distance’ one as I am not a fan of stray domesticated animals (they belong to homes and not the streets!). Besides, stray cats and dogs are one of the biggest threats to wildlife. I know you are now wondering why didn’t I adopt her—well, some questions should be left open-ended. Every time I passed by her, we exchanged glances and meows. 

Here we have a tiny kitten who has lit up the corridor and broken the monotony of the mundane. Faces glow on seeing her, and people even visited the University on public holidays to feed her. Such was her magical charm! 

But all good things have to come to an end, and one day, she lost her life to a gang of long-tailed macaques. Those nasty creatures had not only wrung the life out of her, but stomped over the happiness she brought to a faculty. I still see many of her fans getting teary-eyed while recollecting the fond memories she had left behind. For a long time, many left flowers before the cardboard box that used to be her home (pic). I could never walk down that corridor without remembering her. So, here is it, to Dr. Oli, the little creature who brought us happiness, and taught us many a thing...We will always miss you!