In the blink of an eye, the seaport known as ‘Yaanai Iravu’ slipped away behind them.

Then, the forest trees seemed to rush backward. Birds in the sky flew away in retreat. Streams, ponds, village outskirts, temples, mandapams—all darted past and vanished behind. A herd of deer tried to race alongside the elephant for a short distance. The deer, too, fell behind in defeat. Only the elephant pressed on, ever forward, ever ahead. How far, how long—Poonguzhali could not tell. Yet she marveled: was this elephant still traveling within the land of Eezham? Surely, by now, it must have crossed the island three times over! No, no! This elephant had not left the land of Lanka. It was traversing the very earth itself—journeying from the southern tip of the world to its northern crown! Riding upon its back, I too am circumnavigating the globe. Am I alone? The prince is with me!

At first, when the elephant began its wild, frenzied run, Poonguzhali had felt a twinge of fear. Along with fear, there was an anxious uncertainty, not knowing what might happen next. Two or three times, the prince turned to look back at her and smiled. After that, her fear and hesitation melted away. An unbounded exhilaration seized her.

For a while, she rode upon the back of that mighty elephant across this earth. Suddenly, it seemed as if she had ascended to the heavens. In the celestial realms, she was seated upon Indra’s own Airavata. Airavata paraded along the skyways. Kalpaka trees showered her with fragrant blossoms. Gandharvas followed behind, playing sweet harmonies upon their divine instruments. Apsara maidens danced as they came. On either side of the heavenly avenue, star-lamps blazed with radiant, dazzling light! Thus, countless ages seemed to pass!

Now, Airavata’s speed was slackening. Suddenly, it had returned to earth. They were once more amidst the forests of Lanka. The mahout bent forward and tapped the elephant’s forehead. He whispered something into its ear. Wait! Was he not the mahout, but Indra himself?—No, was he not the prince?

The elephant came to a gentle halt upon the bank of a pond, surrounded on all sides by trees. Poonguzhali, with a trace of anxiety, looked to see if a crowd had gathered on the opposite bank to welcome and attend to the prince. No! She glanced back to check if a line of horses was following them—no, not that either! She looked at the pond; the blooming alli flowers and the red lotuses floated towards her, entwined with their vines. They surrounded her on all sides. Those flowers caressed her cheeks, her shoulders, her whole body, embracing her in delight. Then, the relentless vines tightened around her, squeezing her so that she struggled for breath. Her body shook, as if it had been turned upside down and thrown from the grip of those flowered creepers to the earth.

The elephant bent its massive forelegs and knelt. Then, folding its hind legs as well, it lay down