The mouse was extremely cautious. It nibbled at the piece of food but kept looking back. The last few nights had seen the new cat in the neighbourhood terrorise them by eating some of its ilk. Notwithstanding its cautiousness, the mouse had no inkling as to how nim-ble-footed a cat can be. The cat had silently come and stood behind it. Even before the mouse could turn, the cat opened its mouth wide and, with a feline’s trademark alacrity, gobbled up the little creature, much to the shock of other mice, who all stood gaping from the nearby holes, one among them being a young, little mouse.
The multiple sightings of gory events forced the mice council to convene an emergency meeting. They thought and thought, yet a solution eluded them, till the little mouse—who was an eyewitness to the mauling of the previous night—asked permission to speak. The elders were skeptical. How could this tiny little one possibly come up with a solution to a problem that eluded everyone for ages? However, before they could dismiss the little mouse, he insisted that they hear him out. Reluctantly, they agreed.
‘Tie a bell around the cat’s neck,’ the little mouse said, unsure if his suggestion would be accepted or ridiculed. ‘That way, we’d know when the cat approaches us as the bell would clink at each step it takes.’
Silence descended upon the place as they soaked in the meaning. Then, a celebration erupted. They had finally found a solution to the problem that had long plagued them, not just at their place but by mice around the world. While everyone was busy celebrating, the young mouse interrupted them. Becoming the devil’s advocate, he said, ‘Even though I’d suggested the solution, let me add a caveat to it. The bigger question now is: who will bell the cat?’ With those words, the place again turned pensive and quiet.
Some say the story means it’s easier said than done, while others feel courage and intelli-gence can overcome any adversity. But in all this, the cat can be seen as representing our ghosts, fears and shortcomings, and we must confront them before they turn into Frankens-tein monsters, which they invariably do. Let’s have the courage, intelligence and ability to bell the innumerable vicious cats in our minds. Beware and act fast, lest they devour us.