He says that the new government under Chief Minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah is bringing about progressive thinking, and they, as the headman’s family, have to set an example for the village. If Sannegowda has a medical problem, all he needs to do is go to the market town and meet the inglees doctor for medicines. That doctor cures everything, he says. ‘There is no need to ruin my sister’s life like this,’ he pleads. Gowra adds her arguments to his, as firmly as she can.

It doesn’t work. Ajji is not certain that Sannegowda will go to an inglees doctor, but even if he does, she doesn’t trust the inglees at all. And Gangi has already decided on her course of action. She goes about saying goodbye to all her things in the house.

Doddegowda and Ningamma look helplessly at Byregowda and Gowra. What if the gumma and kolli devvas start haunting their house because Byregowda has rubbished traditions that have been followed for centuries? What will Ooramma say? Feeling impotent, Byregowda goes away to the market town and broods till everything is over. And Gowra sits at home, watching events unfold around her, unable to do anything at all.

Annaiah is almost as distressed as they are. But after all this talk of dedicating Gangi to God, which has spread around the village like wildfire, marrying her respectably to anyone is out of the question. Bhagyakka will certainly not accept as her daughter-in-law a girl who has been marked for God. So it is better she lives with him, Annaiah, rather than with Dasegowda, he convinces himself. He promises Ajji that he will share his food and his life with Gangi, and prevent any harm from coming to her.

It is the night of Kamanahabba and all the young boys and girls of the village have exhausted themselves playing with colours. The ritual of burning Kamadeva’s effigy is over. Everyone has drunk the paanaka, the men have gone off to drink the local sharey, now called saraayi, at the shop outside the village. Even the old men have wrapped up their card games and gone home.

Ajji is with Gangi, preparing her for her life with Annaiah. Ningamma sings the traditional wedding songs in a trembling voice and Gowra listens grimly. Ajji slowly combs out the strands of Gangi’s long hair, carefully putting in mallige flowers and weaving her hair into the bridal moggina jade.

Ningamma and Ajji drape Gangi in the green seere that all brides of the headman’s house have worn. Ajji takes out all her own bridal jewellery and the jewels she has had made for Gangi’s wedding. One by one, the jewels adorn the young girl, making her glow with a radiance that not even the sobs of Ningamma can dim.

The moon is out in full and the breeze is warm as Gangi, with her anklets tinkling bell-like on the silent street, walks to the temple, accompanied only by Ajji. As they approach the temple that is lit up for Kamanahabba, Ajji glances around. All the villagers have gone back home and the place is empty. She peers at the banyan tree. Are Chikthayi or the ghost of Putti around? She looks at Gangi, wondering if she can also feel the needy presence of her two aunts, but her daughter’s attention is on the entrance to the Kamadeva temple, where Annaiah is standing, straight and tall, brooding in the moonlight.