The narrator had already tutored Shastri what he wanted him to say. He asked Shastri what was worrying Ranga. Shastri made some calculations and declared that it was a girl. He added that the girl probably had the name of something found in the ocean, like Ratna. The narrator said that Ratna was the name…
According to the astrologer the cause of Ranga’s worry was a girl. She probably had the name of something found in the ocean. When asked if it could be Kamla the astrologer did not rule out the possibility. When suggested if it could be Pachchi, the moss, the astrologer put a counter question. “Why not…
The narrator wanted to exploit the common human weakness. He was eager to know the future. He went to the village astrologer and tutored him in all that he wanted the astrologer to say when he would revisit him with Ranga.
Ranga asked the narrator curiously who was the girl that was singing. The narrator wanted to know the mind of Ranga whether he was serious about the girl. So he told a lie that she was married a year ago. On hearing this, Ranga’s face changed colour. The narrator was convinced that Ranga was genuinely…
The narrator arranged the meeting very systematically. First, he called Ratna on the pretext of sending buttermilk through her. Then he asked her to sing a song. Meanwhile Ranga, whom he had sent for, reached the door. He became curious to see the singer and peeped in. His presence at the door blocked the light…
Ranga had decided not to get married at an early age. But one day when he went to the narrator’s house, he stopped at the threshold as he heard Ratna’s singing. He was enchanted by her and kept glancing at her.
When Ranga reached the narrator’s house, Ratna was singing a song. Ranga stood at door spellbound. Seeing a stranger there, Ratna abruptly stopped singing. There were signs of disappointment on Ranga’s face when the singing stopped.
The narrator frequently visited Rama Rao’s house. Ratna was quite free with him. One day he went to their house. He told Rama Rao’s wife that he would send some buttermilk for her and asked to send Ratna to fetch it. When Ratna came he requested her to sing. In the meantime, he sent for…
Ratna stopped singing on seeing a stranger outside the room. Ranga felt disappointed when the singing stopped. Ratna stood at a distance with her head lowered. Ranga repeatedly glanced at her. He blamed himself for singing to stop and offered to leave. Ratna was overcome by shyness and ran inside. Ranga inquired about her.