When I woke up, the workers were already busy threshing the grains. I went outside to watch the process. One of the women was holding a makeshift stand and using her leg to separate the grain from the straw. I looked at her feet. There was no blood. Ammachi was standing there and guiding them
“Ammachi, doesn’t stepping on the grain hurt her leg?” I pointed the worker to Ammachi
“No, Nina, she is used to it”. Ammachi responded
Other women were busy winnowing using the air current. It was amazing to see the grain and chaff separating. The men were busy spreading the stalks on the ground to dry.
Every now and then Chakki would bring spiced buttermilk and everyone takes a break.
Ammachi was busy meassuring the grain.
“How many para (traditional rice meassure) of grain are we going to get this time?” I asked Ammachi
“About 200”.

When the threshing and winnowing was finally over, all the workers stood in a line infront of the doorstep. Ammachi sat on her chair and started distributing the wage. One para (rice meassure) of grain for each worker. Ammalu’s father came in the nick of time to collect his daughter’s wage. He was reeking of toddy. He couldn’t even walk straight. I was sure Ammachi isn’t going to pay this drunkard any grains. But she did.
After he left, I asked Ammachi “why did you pay him? He didn’t do any work”
“What is Caiser’s is for Caiser”. She replied. I didn’t know who Caiser was and I was angry with my grandmother for paying a man, his daughter’s wage, knowing very well that he is heading for the toddy shop. Not only that he sold his daughter and she was my friend.
I went to the kitchen feeling disgusted.
I could hear drum beats in the distant and it was coming closer and closer. I ran to the main door to see what is happening.
“What is going on Ammachi? I asked my grandmother
“Oh, it must be Shankaran”
“What? Who is Shankaran and why is he banging the drum?”
For a second I thought Ammachi got the kathakali dancers to come to our house and torture me with another long session.
By now all the kids in the neighbourhood has come together and they were all marching in a procession to our house.
I walked out of the house to see who is this Shankaran.
That is when I saw Shankaran. He was coming towards me. I ran back to the house as fast as I could.
Ammachi and Chakki were standing at the door step. I tried to hide behind Chakki. Shankaran stood majestically before my grandmother.
“Shankara, you have grown much bigger than I thought”. Ammachi spoke to Shankaran. She gave him a piece of jaggery and he took it from her hand, using his trunk. This was the first time I ever saw an elephant this close.
“Nina, give this to Shankaran”. She gave me a piece of jaggery.
“No way”. I held Chakki tight.
I looked up to see Shankaran’s tiny eye. How can such a giant animal have such a tiny eye? Then I noticed the tusk. It was long and menacing and I was not going to go anywhere near him.
That is when I noticed the mahout. He was looking at me and grinning and he had no teeth to show.
“mole (daughter) come here” he called me
I held Chakki even more tightly and Chakki started to walk towards the mahout. I started pulling Chakki back to the house and Chakki started pulling me towards the mahout.
Finally Chakki won and I found myself standing infront of the mahout.
“mole (daughter), give this jaggery to Shankaran and then walk between his legs”
I looked at the mahout as though he was speaking greek. ‘why would I want to walk between Shankaran’s legs, which by the way is the same size as our house pillar get myself killed’?
“Nina, if you walk between the elephant’s legs, you would never be afraid of anything” Spoke Chakki the prophet.
It is easy for her to say so, it is I who has to walk.
Ammachi came towards us. She was patting Shankaran’s body.
“Nina, you can do it”She told me
“What if Shankaran sit on top of me? I will be squashed like a pappadam”
“He won’t”
“How do you know?”
“I just know and little girls should do what the elders say and not ask too much question.
By then one of the neighbourhood boys, wearing only a pair of shorts that he was tugging every now and then because it was loose bravely walked between Shankaran’s legs and everyone clappped. He looked at me and called me a “pedichuthoory” (scary cat). I saw nice glistening rocks on the floor and for a moment imagined throwing one of the rock on his stupid face and knock the smile out.
‘I am Methran Thambi’s grand daughter, and no one dares to call me pedichuthoory(scary cat)’
I took a piece of jaggery, gave it to Shankaran. It felt ticklish when his trunk touched my hand. Shankaran used his trunk to pick the jaggery from my hand and placed it in his mouth. I prayed to parumala thirumeni (jacobite Saint) and made a quick dash between Shankaran’s legs. As I came out, I stuck my tongue out to the loose shorts boy.
“one day I will marry you and i will teach you a lesson”he replied
“That will be the day crows fly upside down”. I replied.
The toothless mahout came to me holding something in his hand
“This is for you”. He said
He gave me a hair from Shankaran’s tail. Winners trophy.

note: It is believed in my culture that if you wear a elephant tail hair set on a golden ring, it will protect you from all evil and your ancestors will guard you.

Para
http://www.webindia123.com/craft/state/kerala/images/para.jpg
Elephant
http://www.palmlandtours.net/kerala/tours/elephant/little_mahout.jpg