Wait, she yells and rushes in, trying to straighten her damp seere. Ramappa turns politely and waits for her to catch up. Thimmakka stops and stands in front of him, at a loss for words.

Ramappa looks around the hall. ‘Where is Bangari? Chandru is crying,’ he says in a censorious tone.

Thimmakka’s heart warms. He is angry with Bangari. Good. ‘Oh, she has gone off to my brother’s house to be with Ajji,’ she says artlessly.

‘Gone off? Without telling me?’ Ramappa is bewildered.

Just then, Chandru lets out another series of wails. Ramappa goes quickly to Bangari’s room, opens the heavy wooden door and picks up the sobbing child who is screaming ‘I want chikkamma!’ Ramappa settles down to comfort him.

Thimmakka pouts. Nothing is going the way she planned it. Her bridal best is bedraggled and wet. Ramappa has not even bothered to look at her. And now he is in Bangari’s room instead of gazing at her with bewitched eyes. She wants the old Ramappa who used to follow her around like a puppy, desperately seeking her favour.

She has to reel him back in. He is still cradling Chandru, calming the child down. In a show of motherliness, Thimmakka holds out her glittering bangle-filled arms to Chandru, who wails again and clings to Ramappa.

Angered, Thimmakka says, ‘Here, give him to me,’ and forcibly pulls the child from Ramappa’s arms.

‘What is the matter with him? Why did Bangari go? When is she coming back?’ Ramappa asks, patting the child on his back and soothing him.

It is Chandru who answers. ‘She is not to come back. That is what this doddamma said. She has beaten chikkamma and told her not to come back. She wouldn’t let me go with her. Appa, take me to chikkamma! Let us leave this bad doddamma and go away!’

A still-puzzled Ramappa holds Chandru close to him and looks questioningly at Thimmakka. She gestures for silence and motions that Ramappa should come out. Not in front of the child, she hisses.

Ramappa raises his eyebrows, but obediently puts the clinging child back down and tells him, ‘Chandru, I will be back soon and take you to chikkamma, don’t worry.’

He then follows Thimmakka to her room. She shuts the door behind him and stands, posing provocatively against the door. He looks at her inquiringly.

This man just doesn’t understand! I need to show him, Thimmakka thinks. She flicks her thick mallige-filled braid over her shoulder and sashays forward. She puts her arms around Ramappa’s neck in a seductive movement and sniffs at his neck. Hmm, who knew that sweat can smell so nice!

Ramappa stiffens and gently removes Thimmakka’s arms from around his neck. She looks at him with reproachful eyes and smoothes his cheek with her still-sore palm.

‘What new game is this, Thimmakka?’ Ramappa asks, very still, in a dangerously quiet tone.