THE MAHOUT
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.”
“Thank
you, sir! I need only 5,” Velayuthan said and ran out.
***
Twenty
minutes later, the aide rushed in and said, “Sir, the elephant is back in the
temple, totally subdued. It took less than 5 minutes!”
“Fantastic
news, but where is Velayuthan?”
“That
is the puzzling part, sir. Observers say he disappeared mysteriously
immediately thereafter.”
The
aide added, “They say that there was once a super mahout called Velayuthan,
died twenty years ago.”
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