‘That day she was dressed in a blue silk skirt, a saffron dhavani with a coined border and a diamond waistband.

‘The merchants, who had been struggling to gaze away from the rubies, were now struck dumb by this gem of a woman.

‘The elder merchant raised his hands and eyes to the sky, as if he were praying, said something in his language and turned to bless her with his open palms.

‘Well, that was no surprise. I have seen several elders do the same to Chennadevi upon first seeing her. In fact, once when we visited the temple, a man stood watching her, worshipping with folded hands, until she disappeared. On another day, a man who had seen her for the first time, stared and then silently wept.

‘An incident that beats even these happened when we were very young. It was high noon. Chenna and I were alone in a shrub forest inside a closed palanquin. We were on our way to her mother’s place. Chenna made me sit next to her and was narrating a very interesting story, which is a favourite with children.

‘“Once upon a time there were two houseflies who were getting married.” She described in detail the jewels that the bride and the groom were decked in from top to toe. The bride had so many jewels that she was not able to turn her neck. But she so wanted to take a look at the groom. “And then …” Chenna said when our palanquin shuddered and lost its balance. I hugged her tight. We could hear scrambled screams from the outside. We could feel the palanquin being placed on the ground.

‘There were holes in the palanquin for us to peek through without opening the door. Both Chenna and I looked through them. Our palanquin was surrounded by a group of bandits. They looked terrifying dressed in black veshtis crossed between their legs, smothered in dust and mud, huge like wild elephants, their chests matted with dusty red hair, dry unruly hair on their heads, long moustaches like squirrel tails, and bulging scary eyes. And each was armed with a sickle.

‘“Are you going to open the palanquin,” demanded a gruff voice, “or should I?” I was petrified, but Chennadevi was calmly looking through the peephole.

‘I could see the huge red dot of kumkum in the centre of the bandit’s forehead. Under it was a streak of sandalwood paste. A thick chain of wild basil seeds hung around his neck, a dark blue veshti was tucked between his thighs. There was a yellow cross belt on his shoulder, a sparkling sword that hid half his face and he had a burly physique.

‘There was silence for a while. We didn’t know what to expect. Chennadevi snapped open the palanquin door and stepped out. She looked at the rough group with a peaceful smile. Gradually her eyes scanned them, until they rested on the leader. She stood, still like a statue, the smile on her lips never shifting. The diamond embedded in her nose pin sparkled brightly.’