Annaiah is lying in a heap outside the temple. It is a hot summer night and sleeping outside is the only way to beat the heat. Thimmakka stops right by his side, looking down at him. Poor thing. He so badly needs looking after. She knows without being told that he has not been eating properly. How can he? Only she knows the exact amount he eats, the food he likes, the way he likes it. What does Chenni know, except to cook? Anyway, he never eats if she, Thimmakka, doesn’t. Perhaps the poor thing has even been starving!

Very gently, seeking not to disturb him even a bit, Thimmakka sits down on the dry ground beside his head and slowly, ever so slowly, lifts his old head onto her lap. She wrinkles her nose as the pungent smell of the saraayi hits her. But she ignores it. After all, she is used to it and it is Annaiah.

Her fingers reach out to caress his hair, forehead, face, beard, slowly touching him as she has always wanted to, down his upper garment to feel that soft hair on his chest … In his sleep, Annaiah moans and turns his head into her lap. His dry lips touch her thigh. Thimmakka draws in a swift breath, but otherwise keeps absolutely still.

Fighting the abysses of sleep and drunkenness, Annaiah resurfaces to the dim light of the summer moon. He stares into the beautiful young face and blinks, wondering at this strange dream. Slowly lifting his hand, he reaches out to cup her cheek … and jerks upright immediately. It is no dream!

‘What are you doing here at this time of the night, Thimmakka?’ he demands.

As the girl recoils in shock at his violent query, Annaiah suddenly realizes that he is reacting like an old inflamed man. Perhaps the dear child wants to hear some stories and cannot sleep. After all, marriage is a big thing and many a young girl is unable to handle anxiety.

‘What’s the matter, Thimmakka?’ he asks in a much softer tone, laying his hand on her head.

At this gentleness, Thimmakka recovers some of her composure and sauciness. ‘I have come to spend the night with you,’ she declares with a quick smile.

Annaiah is taken aback. Well, I suppose it is all right, as I am old enough to be her grandfather. Still, she is to be married and maybe she doesn’t understand. And there is no one else here to tell her anything about such things. ‘Thimmakka, you cannot do that at this age. You are to be married, you know. The only person you can spend your nights with now is your husband. Go home now, child. I will tell you more stories when you are married and you come to sit with your husband here at the Kamadeva temple to listen to my tales,’ he says gently.

Thimmakka looks at him mulishly. What nonsense he is talking! Doesn’t he know? ‘Annaiah, I don’t want to marry him. I love you. You know this! I have been with you since I was a child. I want to be with you and no one else.’