No one saw what happened to him. Even today, no one knew what really transpired. It was all speculation. He must have somehow got entangled with the rope, which dragged him backwards, and then he must have fallen through the opening into the depths below. On his way down, he must have knocked into the walls of the well. But he was a strong man; he would have found a way to balance himself. Then how did it happen? He was in the habit of calling out to Marayi once he was done pouring out four buckets of water on to the water channels. She had waited for his call that morning and, upon hearing it, had risen and begun attending to the chores in the house. At that time of the day, he didn’t have to yell. He only had to whisper her name, and she’d respond. She was working near the rock when, suddenly, she heard his screams.

When she ran to the well, she saw the bullocks kneeling beside the roller, terrified, with the rope twisted dangerously around their necks. Their eyes were bulging because of the pressure of the rope tightening around their throats. Seeing their eyes shining in the muted early morning light, she screamed. People from the neighbouring fields came running and freed the animals. Velayyan was nowhere to be found. When a few of them peered into the well, they couldn’t see anything. They had a hard time keeping Marayi from climbing down into the well. The news reached Vairipalayam and people came rushing. It was only when the sun was high in the sky that they could descend into the well and bring him out. It was his corpse that was fished out. No one could understand what had frightened the bullocks that day. It had never happened before. After all, they had been doing this work for years. What could have thrown them off if not some ghost?

Everyone believed it was the work of some ghost. Then the rumour that one of Velayyan’s ancestors had committed suicide at the spot and that his ghost was still wandering in the area began making the rounds. Tongues started wagging: ‘He was in too much of a hurry. He thought he’d sell chillies and build a palace with that money. Would this have happened if he had waited until daybreak before he started the irrigation work? We work so hard day and night, but what’s the point? Are we going to take it all with us when we die? Everything makes sense only as long as we are alive. Now, see what has happened. He has gone leaving this little boy behind. And she is still a young girl. What will she do? This is why you should keep your ambition in check . . .’ People said all sorts of things. They were all jealous of his chilli harvest.

Marayi did not water the chilli plants after that incident, and they dried up slowly. The well too was abandoned; no irrigation was done. Later, when Kumaresan was older, people tried telling him that it might be a good idea to start drawing water from the well again for irrigation. He too tried to convince his mother that doing so might result in better harvests and hence more money. But she was adamant. ‘It is enough that we have sacrificed one life. Even if it promises to bring tons of gold, I won’t let you do it.’