Muthyal Rao [Pulling Sarakka away from Yellaiah]: Arre, how I failed to notice this lass all these days?

Yellaiah: She’s just a kid dora.

Muthyal Rao: Bhosdike, do you think your dora is blind or what?

Papa Rao: Don’t worry Yelliga; we’ll let her taste the sweetness of life before her brother tastes its bitterness.

Yellaiah: Dora,it won’t go well with ammorlu, Sarakka and Sammakka.Know she’s born with their blessings.

Papa Rao(Beating Yellaiah with his stick): So you want to invoke their curse on us.

Muthyal Rao: Try sending your ammoru Sammakka to save your daughter Sarakka.

[Exit: Muthyal Rao dragging a wailing Sarakka, followed by Papa Rao, Shaukar Suryam and the henchmen.]

[The neighbours gather around Yellaiah. Someone fetches him some water that he drinks. Yellaiah slowly goes into the hut as all leave.]

[Enter: Narsimma after a while and finds a distraught Yellaiah ]

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Narsimma: Why what happened?

Yellaiah: But why did you offend the dora?

Narsimma: Well, he called me Narsiga and I told him that I’m Narsimma. Has he taken it out on you or what?

Yellaiah: Don’t you know these peddollu are quick to take offence. Didn’t your mother bind you to bear till you’re a B.A.? But still you turn a hotheaded at the least provocation.

Narsimma: Why, didn’t I bear the banduldoddi? Or did I fail to keep my cool after the police lockup. Animals too retort but we, oh how we’re conditioned not to protest even. Oh, what a life we lead, if it can be called life at all. But don’t try to bind me with that sentiment any more. Enough is enough.

Yellaiah: Please yourself with your foolhardy as we pay the price for it.

Narsimma: Why where’s Sarakka?

Yellaiah: What I can tell you? [He cries no end.]

Narsimma: Why don’t you tell me what happened to her?

Yellaiah: Oh how your amma died protesting against the injustice to her brother’s daughter. Failing to protect my own daughter why am I still alive? Oh what an accursed life.

[Enter Sarakka with tattered clothes and shattered look. As Yellaiah takes her into his arms, Narsimma picks up a sickle from the bamboo work.]

Narsimma: Who’s that?

Sarakka: Not one, it’s three of them.

Narsimma[Raising the sickle.]: Tell me who they are? I’ll see their end.

Yellaiah: Why put your life at risk as if we’re not harmed enough. Won’t they see your end before you raise your hand?

[Narsimma throws the weapon in frustration, and folds about Sarakka in emotion]




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