The Yellow Butterfly

'E' of #AtoZChallenge I never figured whether I started loving elephants because Ganpati was (and has been) my favourite or whether I loved Ganpati because he is Elephant-headed.  OR  Whether I started loving elephants because I had my own little elephant since I was a year old.  His name is Appu, he is around thirty-one years old now. He is from Dubai and was given to me by my Surekha maushi on my first birthday. He is soft and grey and has black beady eyes and he has a tiny, cute, flat tail. Over the years he has had multiple surgeries because I would always tuck him in my arms and take him around everywhere I went be to the doctors, to the dairy, while visiting the relatives; and also because I always hugged him and slept every night for the longest time! He has sock-made-tusks stuffed with cotton (which have been stitched over and over by my mum through all these years).  Appu was not just my playmate and a companion, but he was my brother!...

It was a beautiful night. The snow sat still and the stars shone bright. Andrea’s house was the tiniest on the lane yet the lights wrapped around her roof and the fence made her house look the prettiest. She lived alone. Her children had grown up and had settled in other cities. Her grandchildren visited her once a year in summer. But t onight, she was not going to be alone. Tonight was Christmas night. It was going to be a special night.  Tonight, she had invited all the people she loved. Andrea had cooked a delicious meal of chicken and steak. She had baked her famous fruit and wine cake and made a special batch of choco chip cookies. The table was set with cutlery and candles. The Christmas tree was beautifully decorated and around it laid wrapped gifts for everyone, handpicked by Andrea. Just as the clock struck six, her people walked in.  First one was her best friend, Lucy with whom she had shared her entire life, followed by Lucy’s husband, James. Then wal...