There was once an elephant who belonged to a maharajah of India and
who lived in great style. The Maharajah’s personal chef prepared great
quantities of rice for the elephant to eat every day – not just any old
rice, but fluffy, savoury smelling basmati rice, with cardamon pods,
cloves, cumin seeds and a touch of red saffron – a dish fit for a king
or queen.
Now in the same palace there also lived a dog who belonged to one of
the servants. He was not nearly so lucky as the elephant, and had to get
by on a few dollops of butter called ghee or a spoonful or two of
lentils called dhal for his breakfast. In the mornings, he would pass by
the stable where the elephant lived and take in the wonderful smell of
the rice. How he loved that aroma! But oh, how hungry it made him feel.
One day, the dog could hold back no longer. He slipped through a gap
under the door to the stable, and saw the elephant eating his breakfast.
Now neither the dog nor the elephant, nor indeed the dog’s rightful
owner, was happy about this occurrence. The elephant keeper made up a
story that the dog had run away. The elephant did not believe such a
thin tale, and pined for his friend. He refused to eat his rice, no
matter how tasty the chef made it. The Maharaja noticed how the prized
elephant was growing thin, and sent his personal doctor to find out the
cause.
The elephant keeper knew right away that the dearest friend of the
elephant was the dog. He told this to his master, and said that somebody
had taken him away.
The Maharaja, when he heard this, put out a proclamation that whoever
had taken the dog from the Royal Elephant Stables must return him or
face severe punishment. The wealthy man heard this news, and hastily
returned the dog to the elephant keeper. And the elephant keeper, who
had spent most of the money he had received for the dog, returned a few
rupees to the man. And in this way the two great friends, the dog and
the elephant, were once again united, and both of them ate Royal Rice
and thrived in each other’s company. More importantly than food, they
had love and friendship.
