A small boy ran on the road shouting “Maharaj aa rahe hain,
Maharaj!” at the top of his voice, behind him several little ones were running
at a speed that could put our Olympic sprinters to shame. I looked eagerly in
the direction from which these kids had come. Common sense went out of the window and I stood
hoping to see a procession of people clad in elegant, zaridaar, royal
regalia …. decked up in gold. Rolling drums and warning calls. The Maharaj
himself would be on a magnificent horse looking on at his ‘Praja’ throwing gold
and silver coins.
For a while nothing happened. All I saw was a strangely empty road devoid of the usual
hustle bustle of the evening, children cycling, pet dogs walking their owners and the ever
yapping group of maids. Curiosity got the better of me and I opened my gate and
walked to a point from where I could see the colony gate. I still couldn’t hear
the drums, what I did hear was an unusual sounding horn. Maharaj was definitely
coming in a strange vehicle. And then I heard it again! It was a trumpet!
..No..no not the brass musical instrument with a brilliant tone ( what are you
thinking?!!) …it was a trumpet as in ‘cry
of an elephant.’ And I heard it again…gosh! Maharaj was coming on an elephant
I stood there and waited with anticipation. Hundreds of
years ago people would have waited like this for a glimpse of their Raja, the
King of their land, revered, and respected, given the status of god, his
principles to be followed, O! the righteous King. Jai ho! Jai ho! Flashes of pictures from the Amar Chitra
Kathas came alive in my mind. However, in entered a lone elephant… trumpeting
aloud (without the maharaja). It shook its head; the long white tusk glistened
and it trumpeted again. Its trunk then stayed at the top and it smelled the air
left and right and then in front. With another head shake it decided to forge
ahead straight towards me. For an elephant so huge and heavy it trotted
surprisingly lightly on its trunk like legs. Trunk up, tail straight and parallel to the
road, dashing on, it was a sight to be seen.
I was rooted to the spot, unable to move I looked enthralled
with disbelief. I had heard of stories of elephants entering the colony but
never imagined it would do so from the main gate. All around the colony there
was thick vegetation and undergrowth. Layers of barbed wires existed supposedly
to safe guard us from such invasions. It was now only a few feet away, ears
flapping, head shaking, it was majestic and I felt tiny, so irrelevant, and no
match. Trample me! I don’t deserve to exist in your land. This is your territory, I
have invaded it and occupied it and ousted you oh! Glorious One.
When I looked at the elephant all powerful and so strong, I had
revelation of sorts for humans, so small and incomparable we have defeated all
other species, overpowered them with our mighty intelligence, brain power. We
piddly Homo sapiens. The meaning of Homo sapiens learnt while studying history? biology? some 25 years ago made more
sense at this moment: The only surviving hominid; species to which modern man
belongs; bipedal primate having language and ability to make and use complex
tools; brain volume at least 1400 cc. Black or white, female or male, any caste
or creed, it doesn’t matter, we are the species which has transformed all odds and
conquered all living things. We have the power to occupy all the space, we have the
greed to want more space after occupying all space.
This was no time for contemplation but for survival! One
more second and I would be mashed potatoes under its legs. Then it would toss
me, gore me with its tusks and fling me into the bushes…..dare you stand on my
path…
I came to my senses and rushed into my cage of bricks and cement.
One bang and the elephant could break the wall. One bang and we could lose
everything we had bought over our lifetime of living and travel. One bang and it could all
be over.
But it did nothing of
the sort and went for the jackfruit and banana trees in our garden. Couple of
more elephants joined in and had a party. The herd knew exactly where to go, which
garden to invade and which route to take.
It left... with many broken fences but luckily no broken bones
in its wake.
