Close Encounters

The story goes that once Daddy walked across a tiny ledge on the fourth floor from one balcony to another to spy on his sister. 

Daddy clearly had a head for heights. 
There weren't many things that frightened Daddy. When you are young, you think you are invincible.

When he was growing up, Daddy was the sensible one. He followed rules, he behaved, he was responsible.

When the local boys headed their bikes towards their garden gate to ogle his beautiful sister, he would be the one who came speeding home to shoo his sister inside so they couldn't see her. Pakku-ammachi used to call him 'Granddad' for his old man ways.

But once he got to college, it was as though Daddy had been let out of prison! Suddenly he needed adventure. Rules were there to be broken. Walls were meant to be climbed. Classes were meant to be cut!

Daddy and his friends looked for every opportunity to go exploring Kerala and the neighbouring states. Their means of transport was Shivan, the owner of the coffee shop/canteen on the college grounds. Shivan had a rattle trap jeep which, for the cost of petrol and a share of the adventures, he would drive them anywhere in.

These alcohol fuelled jaunts could start on a mere whim and never involved any planning. They would sleep out in the open air and catch fish for their dinner. It's best not to ask about what they did for toilets and showers!

Soon Daddy got himself a motorbike. His friend taught him how to drive it and one of their trips was made on a cavalcade of motorbikes. The group decided to go to Munnar, a hill station in the Western Ghats famed for its tea estates. 

Wild elephants lived in those hills and it wasn't uncommon, in the dry season, for a herd of elephants to descend from the forest in search of food or water.
However, you were lucky as a tourist if you actually got to see the elephants.

So, when the group rounded a bend in the hill road and found an elephant blocking their path, their initial feeling was one of excitement at their good fortune. Those who had cameras, whipped them out and began taking shots. 

Daddy can't remember the exact point at which they realised the danger they were in. The elephant slowly turned to face them. You could tell from its restless manner, from the fanning of its ears, from the swaying of its trunk, that this elephant was unhappy. Not just unhappy, angry! Daddy backed away and shouted to his friends, "Start the bike! Start the bike! Run!"

A lone elephant is usually a rogue elephant and is dangerous.

The boys scrambled on to their motorbikes. The elephant started to take strides towards them. In sheer terror Daddy tried to start his bike. Nothing happened! The elephant picked up speed. To his relief, Daddy's bike suddenly spluttered to life and he almost did a wheelie in his haste to get away. 

They escaped the charging elephant by the skin of their teeth. Daddy has always had a healthy respect for elephants since then.