She can feel her blood swimming in his presence. Thimmakka does not make the mistake that Putti does. She never tells any of her friends or cousins, not even Chenni, about what she feels. But she is envious of the stories of Gangi, whom Annaiah has lived with and loved as his unofficial wife. Her cousins Nagegowda and Bangari are constant reminders of the fact that Annaiah is a man, not some unreachable concept. A man capable of loving, and producing children. Thimmakka will do one better than Gangi. She will marry Annaiah and be his official wife. Her children will not be at the village wags’ mercy, like Nagegowda and Bangari are. Annaiah will take responsibility for her children and for her, she determines in her dreams.

Many a suitable boy’s parents approach Puttaswamegowda for her hand. Thimmakka always finds an excuse to refuse them: this boy is thinner than a stick, that boy is as clumsy as a donkey … Her loving brother always bows to her wishes. And Chenni, loyal as ever, declares that no boy is good enough for Thimmakka, and she should only marry a boy she likes.

Puttaswamegowda, Chenni and Ajji consider Thimmakka’s marriage to Nagegowda for a while. After all, he lives in the same house and has known Thimmakka all her life. He is a quiet boy with no vices, and will do exactly what she wants him to. And if they get married, she will be able to continue living here, in this house, as a princess all her life. Thimmakka overhears them and smiles to herself. How she longs to shock them all and say, I don’t want to marry him, I want to marry his father! But she is never given the opportunity to say anything on that issue.

Ajji finally says, let us bring a girl from outside for Nagegowda. He is just one year older than Thimmakka. She is a strong girl and will overrule him in everything. Let us find her a boy whom she does not know so well or order around every day. Maybe she will knuckle down a bit and listen to some other boy. And they might find more happiness if she learns to respect him rather than rule him.

In any case, Ajji knows that Puttaswamegowda does not want to give his only sister, that too such a beautiful one, to Nagegowda. Nagegowda does not have a paisa to his name and has a father like Annaiah who never acknowledges him. Ajji arranges for Nagegowda to marry Marakka from the next village.

Finally, Puttaswamegowda and Chenni decide on Ramappa, Chenni’s brother, against whom even Thimmakka cannot find anything to say. He is about eight years older than Thimmakka, independent, not too fair, not too dark, not too tall, not too short, mild mannered, even tempered, reasonably handsome, reasonably rich. He has good fields south of the Kamadeva temple, where he is growing paddy and the new craze, sugarcane.

Thimmakka has known him all her life. He has indulged her and played with her when she was young. He has no mother to bully her, for Somakka is dead. And no sister-in-law to torment her, because Chenni loves her. Ramappa will treat her like a queen. Puttaswamegowda puts his foot down and says, you have to marry him, there are no two ways about it. As for Chenni, she is absolutely thrilled at the idea – no help there.