It was in Year 1974 in Madras India, ten years before your Daddy was Born in 1984 in Sydney Australia.
Your Thatha was 28 years old and working as an Engineer Designing Bridges for cars and busses to cross little creeks and big rivers too
One evening Thatha returned from work on his favourite Royal Enfield Motorbike. Thatha loved the noise of the engine that sounded Broom Broom Broom
When Thatha Pulled up next to the coconut tree, there were a lot of squirrels running up and down the tree making a lot of noise. Thatha knew something was wrong and they were trying to tell him something.
Coconut Trees are tall and majestic and give sweet tender coconut juice to drink
Thatha got off the bike and all the squirrels got scared and ran up the coconut tree. When Thatha looked carefully guess what he found on the ground below the coconut tree ?
Thatha found a Tiny Weenie Baby Squirrel who had fallen off the nest on the Coconut tree. He was so small and had not even opened his eyes and was also a bit injured
Thatha Picked up Little Chintu in his hand and decided to take him home as the nest on the coconut tree was too high to return Chintu to his parents.
When Thatha wanted to take him inside, Thatha's Amma told him remember we have Mini living in the house and he will eat him alive
This was our Home and You can see your Great Grand Mother we call Avva and her. Name was Amba Devi. Next to her is my Favourite Eldest Niece Nithya who is your Dad's Eldest Cousin. The Coconut tree behind the tent was the home for Baby Chintu but he fell down Poor Baby
Mini was my Favourite Pussy Cat who had never harmed even rats but I had to protect Chintu. So I locked Chintu in our bedroom and found a shoe box which was going to be his new home.
Thatha quickly stuffed the box with a very soft old cotton saree to make a soft bed for chintu. Thatha also cut many small holes in the shoe box, to allow Chintu air and also to see some light so he did not get scared of the dark.
Chintu needed Milk but did not know how to drink. First few days were difficult and Thatha had to dip his finger in the milk and allow Chintu to licky licky the sweet milk
In a weeks time Chintu had grown and had learnt to drink milk fed to him using a syringe
and he loved his shoe box home
Chintu was growing fast and became very active so Thatha had to get a Bigger card board Box for Chintu
Chintu was so happy he would not allow thatha to make his soft bed. He was becoming naughty.
Thatha put Chintu in the Shoe Box when he left for work and took Chintu out to play as soon as he came home from work in the evenings
Chintu loved Thatha and here he is sleeping peacefully in Thatha's Hand
When Thatha came home he Put Chintu in his shirt Pockets and gave him Milk which Chintu loved
Chintus favourite game was to sit on Thathas Shoulder and nibble Thathas ears or scratch his face with razor sharp nails like you do princess.
Every one loved watching Chintu grow up and becoming so playful. He loved eating spinach leaves and even cabbage
Chintu was Gorgeous and had grown into a Big Boy and could not stay in the shoe box any longer as it was too small for an active little fellow like him.
One evening when Thatha returned from work, the shoe box was open and Chintu Missing. Thatha was sad and crying and angry with Avva for not taking care of Chintu and even more angry with Mini the cat
Thatha started to search every where in every room and called Chintu, but Chintu never came.
Two hours later Thatha was sitting in the Lounge room and he heard Chintu calling him.
Guess where Chintu was ?
Hiding in the folds of the Curtain so Mini could not catch him. He was such a smart boy and I said sorry to Mini for accusing him of attacking Chintu
One weekend ThaTha wanted to see if Chintu could Climb the coconut tree and meet his family up there.
There was a lot of commotion from all the squirrels and Chintu did not want to climb the coconut tree. Just when Thatha was going to give up and take him inside Chintu kept climbing and climbing and met his parents and brothers and sisters and never came back Down
Chintu returned to his Family and lived Happily ever after
I still love my Chintu.
Chintu means Tiny Weenie in Telugu
Cheeky Chintu Having a Feast
