Fifteen

Abstract

Every day since his marriage, Gen-dethimmahad been exposed to some new experience or other. His world enlarged with every passing day. Ulimavu had opened up new possibilities to the mind that had been content with the limited world of Salundi, Mysore and Gauwally. For some reason the number of children who used to collect on the Malegowda’s front verandah to listen to his nightly narration of stories diminished and Gendethimma himself didn’t feel like telling tales in a racy and spirited manner like before. Nor did he, like he used to, feel like going on till light broke over the village. Even if he sat down to spin yarns because of Mudda’s pleas and nagging; a link would be lost somewhere along the line. He told Mudda the stories of films like, Guleba Kavali and Patala Bhairavi that he had seen with Maranki. As for Mudda, he never failed to thrill to Gendethimma’s tales no matter how uninteresting they were. But that Gendethimma no longer stayed on their front verandah for three or four nights like before, piqued Mudda. However, even Mudda the pinhead knew that the reason for Gendethimma’s quick departure for home was Maranki. Although this sparked off a furious anger in him against Maranki, his longing to see Maranki grew keener.