Velu had an uncanny resemblance to his mahout dad. Even his voice was the same.

But he was a wastrel.

Until Dad died and the elephant refused food.

When Velu patted him and gently asked him to eat, the noble animal rose to oblige.

Velu’s status, too, rose with that.

V.R. Shankar is a retired engineer from India with a zest for creative writing.