The MindSalsa

What else do we need to pray for As long we have you, dear mother? Where be the need to measure human endurance, Seeing you, the embodiment of tenacity? What greater wonder can there be, Than the smile which glows on your face On seeing the children you breathe for? What greater beauty is there Than your love-filled face With the time-etched creases?

Returning home from work that day, the first thing that grabbed my attention was the painted vase sitting prettily on a side table in the hall. “Mynah!” shouted I, addressing my eleven year old daughter, “How did this come here?” “Som bought it for me,” said she, quite simply, leaving me dumbfounded. “Som!” “But you hate him!” I said, referring to my new boyfriend whom she detested. Som had come into my life recently, two years after Mynah’s dad died in a freak accident. He was only 40 then- I was 38. Mynah shrugged and said, “But he likes me, it appears. That’s why he got it when I told him you refused to get it for me.” I was left still wondering at the turn of events as her tantrums on seeing him were still fresh in my memory. Two days later, Som came home during the weekend. He too merely shrugged when I complimented him on winning over Mynah. “Girls like things. You can keep them happy by indulging in these simple things.” I really hope it

The Thrissur District Collector’s aide ran to his boss’s room, huffing and puffing. “Sir, It seems the tranquilizers will take at least four hours to arrive…. They have to come from Coimbatore.” “Coimbatore! Can’t wait that long! Order them immediately to shoot the elephant.” The aide bowed and said, while hurrying out of the room, “Yes sir.” *** A thin man appeared suddenly in front of the Collector. “Who are you, eh? Who let you in?” demanded the Collector. “I am Velayuthan, sir! Just give me one chance to bring the elephant under control. Do not kill it yet, sir, please!” “What! Are you out of your mind? This huge creature is moving freely, posing a grave threat to our people. And who the hell are you anyway; to succeed where so many have failed, including the elephant’s own mahout?” “Sir, I beseech you, just one chance, I seek no more. It is a very gentle temple elephant, just fallen in bad times.” “Ok, I give you 15 minutes, that’s all.”