As her anxiety about being spotted mounted, she ended up rustling and shaking everything. The voices now seemed certain that she was inside the bush. They shouted in excitement, ‘Dey! Come here. She is here.’ The sound of people rushing towards the bush assailed her. She shut her ears tight with her hands, but she could not stop the noise. It fell upon her ears like a large hammer pounding on a rock.

Voices and footsteps blended with one another. Though she could not hear clearly what people were saying, she knew what their intentions were. What she didn’t know was how far into the bush she had managed to move. It felt like she could keep going. But the voices seemed to be getting closer. She would feel better if she managed to get to a place from where she couldn’t hear them. Suddenly, she realized that they were haphazardly hitting at the bush with their sticks. Every time the sticks fell on the plants, it felt like they were falling on her back. The plants that were already withered in the heat showed no resistance to these beatings.

‘How deep could she have gone? Come on, let’s find out. If a woman—no, a girl—can be so bold, then what’s the use of us being men?’

‘There are a lot of snakes inside this bush. It was only yesterday that I saw one. Who knows what she might get bitten by?

‘Look at her trying to fool us! We should have done this as soon as she set foot in the village. It is our fault that we left her alive for so long.’

A root that Saroja had clutched started twisting around her wrist. A snake! She shook her hand desperately to rid herself of it. But it did not release her. She felt as though it was coiling itself around her arm, wringing it. Then, as she twisted and turned, it seemed to slither towards her shoulder and tighten itself around her neck. Her entire body was now caught in its terrible hold. She tried to get up and run, but it was impossible. Even if she tried raising her head a little bit, she risked getting mauled by a tangle of branches and thorns that hovered menacingly above her. Then, suddenly, the snake was gone. Was it even a snake? Or was it just a creeper that had wound itself around her while she struggled desperately in the thicket?

Not pausing to ruminate, she shuffled along, staying low. She decided that she would not stay still, no matter what. She moved into every little gap and crevice she could find between the trees and plants. Yet, the voices advanced on her. In her heart, she pleaded, ‘I have not harmed any of you. Why do you torment me like this?’

As if they heard her prayer, the voices ceased, as did the sound of sticks beating down on the bushes.