So he needs convincing that she wants him, is it? Well she will give him the words first. Thimmakka smiles and says, ‘You are my husband. I am your wife. This is what I am supposed to do. Why do you think this is a game?’

Ramappa returns the smile. ‘Did you throw Bangari out of the house?’ he inquires matter-of-factly.

He smiled as he said that. It is all turning out as I planned, Thimmakka thinks joyously and happily smiles at him.

‘Well?’ he asks again quietly, waiting for her reply.

‘Yes,’ Thimmakka says.

He is still quiet.

Her words come out volubly, eagerly. ‘Bangari is coming between you and me in this house and in our lives. I thought she had to go. I am your wife. I am Chandru’s mother. I am the mistress of this house. What place does she have here? I sent her back. Isn’t that good?’ Thimmakka asks, all in a rush.

Ramappa pushes her aside and opens the door. Thimmakka watches, uncomprehending, as he goes to Bangari’s room and comes out carrying Chandru. Without another word, he goes to the door.

‘Hey, wait,’ cries Thimmakka again, running behind him. ‘Where are you going?’

‘To fetch my wife and Chandru’s mother,’ Ramappa answers shortly and leaves.

Thimmakka stands at her door, impotent with rage. ‘If you bring her back, I will kill her,’ she screams.

Ramappa turns. He sets Chandru on his feet and comes back to Thimmakka. ‘You just try any such thing and I will tell all the village how you killed my sister. Be careful.’

She freezes. How does Ramappa know about what happened with Chenni? He gives her a look filled with loathing and, taking Chandru by the arm, leaves for Puttaswamegowda’s house. Thimmakka locks herself in her room and weeps like the earth itself had erupted. First Annaiah, now Ramappa!

How does Ramappa know, though? The answer strikes her in a flash. Only one person knows about the root she gave Chenni. Annaiah. This is his revenge for the death of his beloved Chenni. He rejected her and sent her back to her spineless husband. And he told her husband what happened with Chenni, not only turning him against her but also giving him a powerful weapon to hold over her. And she hadn’t even meant to kill her!

Filled with rage, she rushes out of the door and to the Kamadeva temple, looking every bit like an angry goddess in all her bridal jewellery.

As she nears the wall, she sees a bright burning glow on the other side. Are the shrubs in Deyi Baidethi’s garden on fire? Anyway, who cares? Thimmakka is not interested in stupid shrub fires now; she has a raging fire inside her. She has to have revenge.