It was around 10.30 - 11.00 AM. The slow and rhythemic 'dong-dong' was music to the ears. It still is - although it is never heard of in Bangalore. It could mean only one thing. AN ELEPHANT WAS APPROACHING.
The children in the street all ran out to greet the elephant. It was in the northern half of Devaparthiva Road. Being too young - about 3 1/2 years? - I was naturally not allowed to cross the Vani Vilasa Road. I had to wait impatiently for the elephant to cross the road and come to our half. It ambled across and as was the routine in such situations, almost every house offered it some rice, jaggery, fruits(optional) and puja to the 'living form' of Lord Ganesha. Our turn too came. The rituals were conducted and off went the elephant to the next house. I naturally followed the elephant to the next house. As the elephant moved out of our street, everyone went back into their houses.
That was when our house went into pandemonium.
The rest of the story was conveyed to me at a later age.
I was "missing" from the house. I had not come back. Naturally my mother and grandmother thought that I might have gone to a neighbour's place to play. A search conducted at the usual house drew a blank. I was not in any of the houses. That was when the panic crept in. A rapid search and enquiry were equally unfruitful. Then someone thought of the idea that I may have followed the elephant. The elephant was now near the Eshwara Temple on Gita Road. Off ran my mother and my brother on his bicycle.
LO! there I was. Watching the elephant in awe. I had been located. Although the distance is not over 200 meters, it was the longest I had walked at that age - unaccompanied by any known people.
It is a walk to remember. This incident is still being remembered everytime an elephant approaches our house in Mysore.
(I at the front left corner)
