I would like to announce my little zoologist's extreme passion towards a giant but soft-hearted species called the 'elephant'. Really, my son, Siddhanth's affection towards the elephants tempted me to write this up.
So it all started with the-elephant-and-the-tailor story which I told him one fine day, along with some actions and gestures, of course. My kid absorbed it so much that he soon started imitating the way the elephant drinks and sprinkles water. Soon after, he discovered (and keeps on replaying) how this dearest animal eats, takes bath, sleeps, walks, stands, sits, shits, and the list goes on. I have jotted down some points that prove how much he loves elephants and which are more than enough to embarrass him when he grows up:
* His loud, noisy, and long trumpet. Peaeaeaeaeaeaeaeaeaemmmm.... All the neighbors, thus know that we have an elephant-fan here. He even raises one of his legs (which is parallel to an elephant's trunk) alongside. At this rate, I am afraid an elephant allomother might come to my home and claim my boy to be hers. Moreover, Sid will more than happy to accompany her to a jungle.
* He currently has 5 elephant toys (and will be happy to have more), which should be around him almost always. Other kids' elephant toys are also welcome. He has even slept with some of them. Usually, he holds one of his elephant toys facing towards him, rolls them upwards as to signify that the elephant is blowing a trumpet. And as usual, the background sound will be his. He has even curled up one of the toy's trunk upwards --- aana chinnam vichu... He takes good care of his elephant toys --- for example, he feeds them - both food and water, he gives them a bath, he puts them to sleep, etc etc etc.
* Whenever I sit to stitch something, he comes with his elephant toys. And then, I should poke the elephant's trunk with the needle just like how the tailor had poked the elephant in the story. "aana umbikai shooji utti"... (aana tumbikaiyil sooji kutti).
* That day he was sitting on one of his elephant toys. I told him that toy elephants break when we sit on them and that we will go to Mysore and get an elephant ride. From that moment onwards, he is waiting to go to Mysore --- "pashur poittu shish cheyam" (Mysore poyittu sit cheiyaam).
* His favorite God - none other than the elephant-headed Ganesha.
* The conventional horse-riding relationship between a kid and his grand-parents has automatically transformed to an elephant-and-mahout (aana-paapan) ride in his case. He even gives a BGM - dham dham dham <sound of an elephant walking>. The one giving him the ride, mostly his ammamma, should occasionally blow a trumpet. If not, the little mahout himself will fulfill this requirement.
* His majesty wants to watch exclusive elephant songs. I have compiled around 15 elephant videos (English, Malayalam, and Tamil) to a single one. Leave songs, he even remembers the series as to which song comes after a particular one. We have developed quite a few elephant stories also. So each time he sits for a natural call, I am to cite either a song or a story. "aana paatu menam; aana tha menam" (ka is silent in katha).
* I have a cartoon movie called "Dinkan" where the mouse is a hero and one of the villains is elephant. He takes the villain's side, of course.
* That day he deliberately tangled the strap of his drums (chenda) in one of his legs and was pretending to be walking with great difficulty. When asked what happened, the little dramabaaz informed that the mahout has tied him with a chain just like how he saw in one of his elephant songs. "aana kaal tangala ittu" (aanende kaalil changala ittu).
* Out of his building blocks, all he wants to make is an elephant. So, it's me who ends up creating one for him. These days, I should also keep drawing a picture of elephant for him; along with a mahout, sometimes. I will either become a great artist or will forget drawing.
Hope Sid amused you with his elephant fondness!!! Hi-five to all the cute kids who love elephants.
