‘Honni caressed my forehead and rubbed my head against her breasts. She told me what to do next. Krishnegowda and I had to carry Rajanna’s body to the Ooramma temple and leave it there. I did it, Parvati. Don’t ask me why. She controlled me completely.’

Parvati’s eyes fill with tears. This can’t be Sundru. It had to be the gumma who has possessed him. She runs to Annaiah and hangs onto the arm that he is grinding with. Annaiah puts his hand on her head. Then, in a quiet voice, he asks her if she would dare to go bring Maadhi. ‘That is the only way to help Sundru,’ he says.

Uncomprehending and fearful, Parvati looks at him. Her father has told her never to go anywhere near the wall. All the village people say that Maadhi is a kolli devva. And the gumma is obviously hovering around … Parvati looks at where Sundru is sobbing to himself. Then, with a nod, she opens the door.

Thimmakka rushes forward, a number of questions streaming from her lips. Parvati remains silent, but Annaiah answers. When she finds out that Parvati is about to go over the wall and bring Maadhi into the house, Thimmakka turns red with anger. She screams hysterically at Annaiah, calling him every filthy name she knows, declaring that he is out to destroy the family. Even as Ajji and Bangari shush her, Parvati quietly adjusts the dupatta of her new salwar-kameez, a gift from Chandru for this Kamanahabba. She leaves the house.

The stars are huge and shining, and the full moon glows. As she walks, Parvati looks at each of the houses on her way. Oil lamps light her long path here and there; the streetlights are not back yet. This is Siddegowda mava’s house, this is Chandru’s house where she will live after five days, this is Karegowda mava’s house, Seenappanna’s house, Marithibbanna’s house, Bhavani’s house, her dear friend Situ’s house, Venkatsamy’s house, Bhagyakka ajji’s old unoccupied house … At last she comes to Dasegowda’s house.

Parvati pauses there and looks at the wall, standing strong and whole as the day it was built. She has never come this far by herself – it has always been with relatives, friends, her brothers, her cousins, Chandru. Being here, alone, at night, it’s like a different world. If her father gets to know, he will probably kill her himself.

She approaches the wall quietly. The banyan tree casts a long shadow in the light of the full moon, which hangs incandescent in the sky. The Kamadeva temple is etched in silhouette behind her. The world is absolutely silent as Parvati climbs the tree and swiftly crosses the branch. She drops to the other side and, pushing through Deyi Baidethi’s shrubs that cling to the edges of her dupatta, she goes towards the tents with a hammering heart.