Within minutes, the mood shifted. No one was laughing anymore. The group stood closer now, watching the footage again. Slower this time. Someone leaned in. “Play that again,” he said. Rahul did. The footage showed the elephant striking the ground repetitively. Each strike harder than the last. A few of the older men exchanged looks.
“That’s not bathing,” one of them said quietly. Another nodded. “It’s too aggressive.” Someone else spoke up. “Where did you see this?” Rahul pointed toward the forest. “Not far. Maybe fifteen minutes.” There was a brief pause. Then one of the men stood up. “We should take a look.” That was all it took. A few people grabbed sticks.
Others called out to nearby houses. Within minutes, a small group had formed. Curious. Uneasy. Rahul led the way. No one spoke much as they walked. But as they got closer they could hear it again.
That same sound. Loud. Repetitive. And now… Impossible to ignore.
