Krishnappa Nayakkar asked Akkayya, ‘Mappillai, tell me a story so I don’t fall asleep.’

Akkayya agreed. But first he went to the top storey and made sure the four strong men were watching every direction.

‘So, you want a story, eh? Okay!’ he said. Still, he could not begin at once for he was wondering if the men he had posted along the fields were doing their job. Raghupathi is there, with them. So I don’t have to worry, he told himself.

When you ask someone in a village to tell you a story, the prompt response is usually: Should I narrate the story of me being born, or the story of me growing up? The listeners would urge the storyteller to tell either. Of course, the storyteller would tell neither, but would launch into another different story. No one knows how the tradition of such a query came about.

Oorkudumban expected Akkayya to ask the ritual question before he commenced his tale. But Akkayya did not.

‘Once upon a time, there was a raja and he had a son who was to be married, not just to one but to two girls. They were sisters. Of course they were princesses too. There was only one ladder between the two bedrooms. You can guess how grand the wedding was!

‘On the nuptial night, two bedrooms were readied, one on top of the other, connected by a ladder for the prince to pass between the two sisters. The younger sister was on the room below and the elder one above. The prince entered.

‘At the same time, a burglar entered the palace to steal. He climbed up a rope and hid there, waiting for the prince to become occupied in one of the two rooms to begin his job.’

One could see, even in the darkness, Krishnappa Nayakkar snickering at this point.

‘The prince started to climb the ladder to go to the elder sister. The younger one waiting downstairs clung on to his foot and demanded, “Where are you going? You go past me as if I am invisible!”

‘The prince came down a rung. Immediately the elder one above, clung on to his neck and asked, “What is the meaning of all this? You tied the thali on my neck first. So come up here first. Only after me can you go to her. I shan’t let go of you.”

‘The prince tried appeasing the elder one. “Listen to me,” he pleaded. “She is young, as good as a child. Can’t you let her have her pleasure first? Also, she openly asked, you see.” The elder one was adamant.

‘So, he turned to the younger one; for peace. “You must pay heed to your elder sister. She is fair, after all. Let go of my leg.”

‘“She’s old enough to be patient. I have set aside my shyness and asked you. At least then should she not let go? She has always wanted to be first in everything.”

‘“Oh, you go out of turn and dare to talk behind my back?” asked the elder one. “No, he will come to me!” She tightened her hold around the prince’s neck. The younger one was no pushover either. She hung on to his feet and pulled the prince down, while her sister hauled him up.