Page 116 - Musings 2021

down. Rajiv made a beeline toward the river and saw the silhouette of a trunk over the
surface. Keshavan fully submerged in the water with only the tip of the trunk above the
surface to breathe. Rajiv heaved a sigh of relief and slowly approached the water.

When the elephant heard familiar footsteps, it slowly emerged from the water. Rajiv was
shocked to see the burns on the limbs of the beast as it stepped out to greet him. The mystery
of his relatively harmless burns was slowly making sense to him. The elephant must have
protected its mahout with its body when the blazing fire cut across the field burning itself. As
the sun rose, Rajiv observed with tears in his eyes, what Keshavan did to protect him. Its
sparkling white eighteen nails were swollen pink and ash smeared. The ends of the long
majestic trunk were pinkish and tender. The long hairs on its tails and lower limbs were burnt
to a crisp and there was nothing but skin. Despite being in pain and agony, Keshavan was
glad to meet its trainer as it was evident from its playful bobbing head and playing trumpets.

Later that morning the fire settled and the town came to terms with the unfortunate accident.
It didn’t end well for Rajiv. In his fall, his hand injured his hip and lower back. It was only
the adrenaline that kept him going. It was the end of his mahout career since back injuries
significantly hindered physical movement. As for Keshavan, the elephant could never
establish a connection with anyone else and it was the last time the town of Aarattupuzha got
to witness a magnificent beast with such virtues.

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