The Elephant and the Dog

Once upon a time, within the beautiful and lush gardens of the royal palace, there lived a magnificent Elephant. He was no ordinary animal; he was the King’s favorite, adorned with silks during festivals and fed the finest golden rice balls every day. Despite his luxury, the Elephant was often lonely, for he had no one to share his days with inside the vast royal stable.

Not far from the palace, there lived a scruffy stray Dog. He was thin, always hungry, and had no home to call his own. One afternoon, drawn by the delicious aroma of the savory rice meant for the Elephant, the Dog crept timidly into the stable. He expected to be chased away, but to his surprise, the giant Elephant simply watched him with gentle, wise eyes.

Sensing a silent invitation, the Dog began to eat the scattered grains of rice that had fallen near the Elephant’s feet. The next day, he returned. And the day after that.

Slowly, a beautiful friendship began to bloom. The potential for a bond between a giant of the forest and a tiny street dog seemed impossible, but it was as real as the sun in the sky. When the Elephant ate, he would purposely nudge large, compassionate portions of his food toward the Dog. When they had finished eating, they would play. The Dog would run in excited circles, barking happily, while the Elephant would gently swing his trunk, sometimes lifting his little friend high into the air, much to the Dog’s delight. They became inseparable, sleeping side by side—the massive gray hill and the small dusty mound.

However, one unfortunate day, a man from a distant village passed by the royal stables. He stopped to watch the Dog performing playful tricks and was charmed by the animal’s intelligence.

“I wish to buy this dog,” the villager said to the mahout, the elephant keeper.

The mahout, who did not own the dog but was greedy for a few silver coins, nodded quickly. “Take him,” he said, snatching the money. He handed the struggling Dog to the villager, who tied a rope around the poor creature’s neck and dragged him away.

The Royal Elephant watched helplessly as his only friend disappeared into the distance. A deep, crushing sadness settled over him.

That evening, when the mahout brought the golden rice, the Elephant turned his head away. He refused to eat. He refused to drink. He stood still in the corner of the stable, his eyes fixed on the door, waiting for a friend who did not return.

Days passed, and the Elephant grew weaker and thinner. The news reached the King: “Your Majesty, the Royal Elephant is grievously ill! He will not touch his food.”

Worried, the King sent his wisest minister to the stable. “Go and find out what ails my beloved elephant,” he commanded.

The minister was a clever man who understood the hearts of all living beings. When he arrived, he looked closely at the Elephant. He saw no fever, no injury, and no sign of disease. But he saw a profound sorrow in the creature’s posture.

“This is not a sickness of the body,” the minister whispered. “This is a sickness of the heart.” He turned to the other servants. “Has this elephant lost a mate? Or perhaps a close friend?”

The servants looked at each other nervously. Finally, one spoke up. “There was a stray dog, sir. They were very close. The mahout sold him to a stranger a few days ago.”

The minister nodded, his suspicions confirmed. He hurried back to the King. “Your Majesty,” he reported, “your Elephant is not sick, but lonely. He misses his best friend, a dog who was taken from him.”

The King, relieved that his elephant could be saved, immediately sent out a proclamation: “Let it be known! Whoever has taken a dog from the royal stables must release him at once, or face the King’s punishment!”

The villager, hearing the drums of the King’s announcement, fairly shook with fear. He immediately unchained the Dog and set him free.

The Dog did not waste a second. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, kicking up dust, straight back to the palace. He burst into the stable, barking with pure joy.

The moment the Elephant heard that familiar bark, his ears flapped wide open. His dull eyes lit up with a spark of life. He let out a loud, happy trumpet that shook the stable roof! The Dog leaped up, wagging his tail furiously, and the Elephant scooped him up with his trunk, resting him gently on his head.

The Elephant ate his food with gusto that day, sharing every bite with his friend. The King was so moved by their bond that he ordered the Dog be cared for just as well as the Elephant. And so, the giant and the tiny dog lived together in the royal gardens, proving to the world that friendship cares nothing for size, shape, or species.