The story of 'Horses and elephants'

(This is a piece of historical incident. The characters of this story are factual.

 Conversations are imaginary, except for the theme.)

This incident happened in Alexander’s court. It was the tradition of Greek traders, who tour throughout the world, to report to Alexander and gift him the rare artifacts they gathered around. Alexander also held meeting with them, to know about people, economy, heritage and culture of the countries they visited.

                During one such meetings, a trader was explaining to Alexander, “Your majesty! I think you would have heard about a region named India and about its enormous wealth” he continued, “But I guess you wouldn't have heard how big fools they were”. Alexander looked at him confusingly, “What do you mean?” The trader replied with a beaming face, “Yes, they are having high quality horses, strong bulls, and animals like huge mountains, called ‘elephants’” everybody listened to him in utter silence, he continued in a mocking tone, “But those fools, they are using those animals to plough their fields, lift loads and for transportation and farming” A wave of mocking laughter, astonishment and sympathy, spread through the court. One of the ministers commented,”They could have conquered the world using those large number of strong animals; I wish you could have owned those animals, your majesty” Alexander thought, “They are suffering in sun, due to their ignorance”. Court was dispersed after some pep talks.

                Later during that day, Alexander described his teacher Aristotle, about the incident happened in court, that day morning. After hearing every word without interfering, Aristotle paced up and down his room, in deep thoughts. After arriving at a conclusion, he said to Alexander,

                                                                

“Dear Alexander, if really such a land exists where the elephants are used for lifting loads, bulls for farming and horses for transportation, then it should be the most magnificent country in the whole world.” Alexander murmured with curious eyes, “I don’t understand you teacher. Aren’t they wasting the potential of their resources, due to ignorance?” Aristotle replied calmly, “No Alexander, in a place where elephants and horses are used for domestic purpose, it means people and animals are living in harmony as a society. Wisdom is ruling and prevailing in that country. India is a blessed country. ” 

The Dog and The Demon

"Thambi...How much do you say for a kilo of onion?", my grandma's old but clear voice stopped the by-passing street vendor. Any street vendor cannot pass through my home, without being stopped by my grandma, who quality checks the commodity (It doesn't matter whether its tomato or Tablet PC's), negotiates the price politely yet strongly, and send them off without buying anything- Everybody have their own hobbies.

Those street vendors too know that she won't buy anything, but they had never hesitated to stop by and bargain equally with her. I don't remember a single day when they had shown their faces off to the old lady's call. I assumed, respecting other people’s hobby was their hobby- Everybody have their own hobbies.

     "Its Rs. 52 per kilo maa", replied the vendor. "I asked for 1 Kg, not for 1 basket of onion" grandma gave an innocent punch. We three know that the bargain will continue for at least 15 more minutes, ending in no purchase. But a shrill scream of a kid, that came from from upstairs snapped off the deal instantly. Grandma shrugged in shock caused by that scream, vendor dropped off his weight balance, and me, I stood blank and my legs forgot that they should run upstairs until my grandma pinched it. In four jumps I climbed the 16 flight stairs, to find the next house kid standing with his legs shivering, hands bleeding, and eyes overflowing with fear and tear. I looked around for a possible cause, there stood Tommy, my pet dog, looking at me innocently with its head tilted to one side, and wagging ts tail.

     It didn't need a detective to guess what would have happened. I know I should wash the wound with clean water and then should take him to hospital. But an unimportant thought disguised itself as the most important issue flashed it my mind. 'Why dogs are always named in English like Tommy, Julie, tiger, Cassie...  and why not they can have Indian names like Anitha, Arun, Raja or Ramya?' My determined mind put aside the sobbing that grew with time and got involved in serious thought. To the luck of that kid, a dumb but logical thought hit my mind unusually soon. 'Perhaps it is the passive revenge, we people are taking against 200 years of British suppression. Insulting them by naming dogs in English'.

     A more confident and anguished scream from the kid brought me back to the real world and I carried him to the hospital. Tommy was already vaccinated so I didn't had the fear of any serious troubles. The doctor said that there's nothing to worry as the wound was due to scratch caused by Tommy's nail. He dressed up the wound and gave the kid a sedative to make him sleep.

     When I came home, I found Tommy tied outside the front gate of home. The kids father who was in dhoti gave me an accusing look as I went to my home. my grandma's face told me stories of commotion caused by him and I understood that he had talked her out to drive Tommy out of the home. I gave her a 'Do something' look, and she gave me back a 'Same to you' look.

    I looked at the kid's father, and said, "So uncle...kid's fine. Doc said noting to worry". He looked menacingly at me as if I tried to feed Tommy his son and said, "But what's sure that this won't happen again?, there are other kids too, its not to safe to have a dog here". I wish I could Untie Tommy and make him to bite that 'demon in dhoti'. So that a menace can be eliminated before Tommy leaves home. But I know Tommy won't bite anybody. He is the perfect example of barking dogs seldom bites. I brought this cute, tiny, shiny, black Labrador, from my friend's home, hiding it in my sister's handbag, so that the bus conductor won't charge for it. I looked at Tommy. He's enjoying the bright sunlight on him, as my home wore a unusually gloomy look anticipating his departure...

     My Grandma finally broke the silence, "Okay, Don't worry, Tommy's a grown up guy, he can find his own food, leave him across the main road near the railway station and come back". Though my grandma said this casually in a steady voice, I didn't failed to notice the longing in her voice. The longing for Tommy to return back home within evening, as the place she said was familiar to Tommy, because he had went walking to that place with grandma lot of times. I know Tommy can surely get back alone from there, and if he comes, then grandma can retain Tommy back by threatening that, "its god's wish that Tommy should be with us, so only he got back all alone, don't get god's curse on you". I untied Tommy trying to hide the excitement because of grandma's plan. But the sugar coated Vicious words from the man, stung our plans. He said, "Paati, Tommy may get hurt due to traffic in that main road, leave him in forest area after that highway".Even before he finished , I know Tommy will be missed in the home for ever. As even a man with six senses and a sickle cant get through that dense forest

     

My head shook firmly in affirmation, as I shifted to plan B. That is to leave Tommy somewhere nearby without telling him. So that Tommy can smell its path back home. This time I completely hid the emotions in my face. I felt quite relived as the demon in dhoti went back into his home.

     I strolled along the road with Tommy, worrying what will he do if he cant find the path back home. But his intelligence and smelling abilities gave me hope. I never imagined, even my plan B,C,D,...Y, Z. will be shattered, because of the voice I heard, "Thambi...Don't go that place alone, I too will come"
Demon in dhoti stood behind me as demon in shirt and dhoti...

---TO BE CONTINUED

The Farewell

“Why shouldn't you come with me?  Why is everybody against taking you with me?” my eyes talked with her. As usual she didn’t reply. Not even nano scale difference in her face expressions. So I started walking away from her, but my thoughts were only about her. 

   

  I can’t forget the days she taught me alphabets in a colorful way. As I grew up, she sung me poems, made me laugh with her jokes, and dozed me off with her bed time stories. She neither demanded me to do something nor complained of me. When I grew into my adolescence, she raised more problems. But I solved them as I had understood her. But it’s all over. I said to myself,” I should do away without her now”.

    

 Finally I reached the place where I should bid farewell to her. 

My exam hall. 

The invigilator drooled at me and asked, “Did you left your books outside?”
I simply shook my head in affirmation. I don’t know what pleasure the society is having by parting us.

My first encounter with a strange woman

I was neatly dressed for the occasion, as it was the first time I was about to meet her. I was waiting in her room. I couldn't hear no other sound except the buzzing of air conditioner. The calmness bewildered me. I prepared within myself the things I wanna tell her. "This is your last chance. Don't mess it up. impress her", I said to myself.

Finally I heard the approaching foot steps. The "click...click..." sound of the heels increased. Finally I saw her entering through the door. I took a deep breath and looked at her. She smiled. She smiled at me!!! "WOW" is the only word I can think about her now.

"Hello dear, good morning", words melted away from her. "G..Goo", my tongue stuck to my mouth. "Ow! idiot. what's this?", I thought, "Come on talk, what will she think of you?" "Good morning", finally my mouth gave way for words. "Why are you looking too nervous? Do you need some water?" she sang again.
 "How does she know am nervous? Is she a magician?" I wondered. But I said "No".

She looked poise when she sat opposite to me in the cushioned chair. Her table had two glass cases full of chocolates wrapped in different colors. "She too's a chocoholic like me", I thought. I didn't began the conversation as my mom advised, "Don't be mischievous with her. Let her start the conversation". So I waited.

"Ahem", she cleared the throat. Finally she broke the ice. She looked at me with artificial charm and asked,
















"So dear, what is the sixth letter of alphabet?".
My face brightened and I started to count my fingers, "A...B...C...D..."
That's how my LKG interview began and my first encounter with a strange woman.