This is not my ritual.
This is Pooja's ritual.
Everything you see in these 2 videos no longer exists.
And that includes my wife's 3-cylinder 993CC hatchback.
Pooja dropped by famished and gobbled down Nothouching's
biscuits and chicken wings . . . and never left.
We didn't realize he was neutered but I am not changing
his name. He responds so well to that name.
One day some dogs escaped from a neighbour's house and chased
Pooja over the fence to the back neighbour and couldn't find
his way back.
When you have two cul-de-sacs, it is a pain to get to your neighbour
especially when a drop separates us.
I called out and luckily Pooja came towards my voice. The neighbour
was suspicious but teaching him his name works.
Mittens never knew her name so I couldn't summon her if she went
missing.
Notouching was hit-and-run on 19Oct2023 and exactly 2 years later,
Pooja died at the vet on 19oct2025 and in between,
3 of the litter of 4 died. The sole survivor is Leeseunggi.
Again, misgendered but I am not correcting that because that
helps to confuse the Angel of Death who seems to be dropping by.
This is from an email that describes the ritual :
" Apparently cats like ritual.
With Notouching, we had a secret handshake.
She might not like it but she never protested.
In the morning I refresh Leeseunggi's water bowl
in the kitchen. Then I empty/clean/replenish
the cat biscuits. I empty the pan on some
flower pots and refill it. Next I light a stick of
incense at Notouching's grave so her spirit knows
where to find me.
Then I take the water meter reading at my two
neighbours. Why? Because around 50 years, a house
breaks down. The roof tiles are sagging, the water
pipes clog up and the water line from the water
meter rusts and leaks.
Already, house number 15 has such
a leak in their garden. About 1cubic metre
- one ton - 1,000 litres -
of water a day. I informed them but they prefer to
pay the water bill instead of getting a plumber.
Chinese not concerned about money?
They are not wealthy.
How long? Since the MCO. It is super quiet when I
walk down to buy breakfast. You can do the math.
Our MCO started 18Mar2020. Behind their house is
a drain leading all the way to Kenki. It is
always filled with water. Guess where it
comes from.
Almost just as long is a similar leak at
Taman Midah MRT station. This time about 3
petrol tankers worth of water per day - 90 tons.
I reported this but they ignored me.
Even tried YB Teresa Kok and Father
Andrew Manickam. The Good Samaritan 2.0 .
Why? I want to avoid a Highland Towers/Jalan
Masjid India sinkhole.
Pooja established this ritual. As I take the
reading at number 77 - China, he plants himself
right in front of the gate. I give him a body
rub in full view of passers by and cars driving
past. Hajiwon also did that and she would go
full stretch with eyes closed. Leeseunggi is
more reserved. She prefers private sessions.
Just the two of us.
Barring rain and occasional disappearance,
this always happens. It is more than a ritual.
It is also a daily covenant. If I am there early,
he spots me and eagerly waddles towards me in a
straight line totally disregarding any cars.
Last week was different. He shuffled towards me
like he was just placating me and fulfil an
obligation. It was the last time. I felt
something was off.
It is then I take our water meter reading.
He still hasn't eaten. Just a sniff at the
tuna, sardine and mashed egg.
Without oxygen, a human can last 3 minutes.
Without water, 3 days.
Without food, 3 weeks. Something like that.
I don't know about cats. I washed Pooja
yesterday. Whatever is coming out is muscle
being broken down for fuel. He drinks
occasionally. I will rinse him again today.
It is the new ritual."
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