She consented without even thinking about it. All she wanted was to be away from the rock for a day. The rock had no compassion for her. Only on those nights when Kumaresan was next to her did the rock relent and hold her in its cool embrace. At other times, all it offered her was oppressive heat and stifling humidity. She had never experienced such a sultry climate anywhere before. Ever since the visits from the villagers had stopped, even the air moved like a heavy wall and slapped her on her face. Her mother-in-law’s words too bounced on the rock and bombarded her with greater ferocity. Deep down, she knew she could never stay alone in this village ever again. So she had made up her mind to go with him wherever he went.

Virichipalayam was far away. Bicycling over the bumpy roads was not an easy task. She knew he was strong—his body usually felt firm like steel under her fingers. But now she felt bad for him, seeing how far he had to travel to conduct his business. But he did not seem to consider this a difficulty.

He laughed and said, ‘Every day, I carry the weight of soda bottles. You are like a light flower compared to them. When I pedal with you sitting behind me, I feel like I am flying!’

His face was drenched in sweat. The fact that he could still keep up a conversation amazed her. Nothing ever seemed to ruffle him. When they encountered a steep incline or large bump in the road, she insisted on making him stop the bicycle so that she could alight and walk alongside. She was also keen that they stop somewhere on the way to eat before resuming their journey. However, he reasoned that it would be difficult for him to ride the bicycle on a full stomach, so it would be better if they ate once they reached the shop.

Barren lands stretched on either side of them. ‘Come and see these fields a month from now,’ Kumaresan chatted enthusiastically. ‘They will be lush green with groundnut crop. Once we get one strong bout of rain, everything will change.’

She sighed. A bout of rain that could change everything?

Saroja liked Virichipalayam immediately. There were a lot of shops along the roads. It felt just like entering a street in Tholur. Small cloth stores, grocery stores, bicycle shops—all arranged in a row. Outside the shops there were some small restaurants where elderly or middle-aged women could be seen sitting with their large idli pots. Saroja looked excitedly at the steam that rose from the piping hot idlis they served. She wanted to eat idlis here one day. Some shops were housed merely in thatched sheds, but they were all crowded. Every shop had a large boiler for tea in the front. They were all clean and marked with holy ash.