When Sundarappa Nayakkar came over to his side, Akkayya handed him a couple of areca nuts and inquired, ‘So, you overate, did you?’ Sundarappa took them and checked to see if they were indeed areca nuts, before popping them in his mouth.

On Akkayya’s thigh was a betel leaf with fresh lime paste. ‘Be careful, the paste is new,’ he warned. ‘It could burn a hole in your tongue.’ He hung his tongue out and the others around burst into a guffaw.

Sundarappa Nayakkar’s leaf was too strong. He rushed to the corner of the corridor and spat it out. ‘Hello, uncle,’ asked the darling of the house, Kannappa, approaching Akkayya who pointed to the lime paste on his thigh. Kannappa couldn’t understand the situation. Akkayya pressed his ring finger on it, then smeared his leaf with the paste on his middle finger, wrapped it and popped it into his mouth. Kannappa gaped at him in doubt, then suddenly read the situation and laughed aloud. The others gathered around Akkayya who showed them the betel leaf with a hole torn in the centre. They begged him for an encore.

He took another leaf, tore a hole, placed it on his thigh and pulled out a little of the dhoti so that it lumped up on the leaf. The white piece of cloth resembled lime paste. He also taught them to wet the cloth a bit so that it would be damp when touched.

What else was he going to come up with next? wondered Govindappa Nayakkar at Akkayya’s quick, naughty brain.

11

ONCE AKKAYYA PULLED A PRANK on someone, he’d never resort to the same trick again. He’d think of something new the next time around.

That morning Sundarappa Nayakkar was mulling over Akkayya’s prank. He wanted to pay him back with another joke by sundown.

Once they had ploughed for the day, Sundarappa Nayakkar wanted to shit. So, he entered the brook to squat, calling out, ‘Mapillai, do not touch the water in the pot.’ Once he was done, he came out to ask for the water. ‘Can you pour it yourself, or should I help?’ asked Akkayya.

Sundarappa Nayakkar was thrilled at the thought of Akkayya asking to pour the water. The mere idea that he could then hassle him about this in front of an audience was satisfying. So, he said, ‘Pour,’ before bending down.

Akkayya poured just a handful of water. Sundarappa Nayakkar washed twice with his left hand before Akkayya dropped the whole potful on the ground and ran off. Sundarappa Nayakkar chased him with his wet hand raised, yelling, ‘Wait till I wipe you with this soiled hand.’

After a long run, Akkayya approached Govindappa Nayakkar, gasping for breath. Very soon, Sundarappa Nayakkar followed with his left hand held high. The moment he saw his elder brother, Sundarappa Nayakkar tucked his hand behind him, silently signalled Akkayya with a glance, begging him to keep quiet.

Before Govindappa Nayakkar could look up from spreading lime on his leaf, and ask about the missing oxen, his younger brother had left the scene.