In Tamil, they have an apt saying "Yaanai varum pinne, mani-osai varum munnai", which translates to "while the elephant comes behind, the sound of its bell precedes it". Just that I don't remember seeing/hearing bells around the elephants in Kerala - it is the sound of the chain-links that herald the arrival of an elephant in these parts.
As is the norm, me & Aman rush to the main road to catch a glimpse of the majestic animal. It surprises us that instead of passing by our home, it has stopped a little away from our main gate. We walk to the gate & see that it is thirst that has made the animal make an unscheduled stop.
There is a public water-tap adjacent to our gate, which is meant for those in the neighbourhood who don't have their own water connection. Or for any wayfarer to quench his/her thirst. The mahout had turned on this tap, enabling the elephant to quench its thirst.
Scooping enough water in its trunk :
As the elephant drinks the water, its mahout turns on the tap even more :
The animal goes for another round of drink.
We standby & watch till the elephant has quenched its thirst and moves on. There is now a mini traffic-jam as most people on the road stop to have a look at the animal. This tap came to be due the initiative of the last municipal councillor of our ward. It's a pity the elephant doesn't have voting rights - else the councillor could have surely counted on it's vote.
