Characters

Manjayya	A rich man in Parijatapura
Shripati Nagaraja Ganesha Ganganna Manjunatha	Boys who are part of Parijata Drama Group
Lakshmidevamma	An Old Senile Woman

Part II Chapter II

Parijata Drama Group Recollects Naranappa’s Help

Parijata Drama Group was established by Naranappa. The drama group would not have become a reality but for Naranappa’s help. Shripati, Nagaraja, Ganesha, Ganganna, Manjunatha & other boys gather in rich man Manjaya’s terrace for drama rehearsal. The harmonium presented by Naranappa is in the middle and they miss him this time as he used to be present every time when these boys have their drama practice.  They practice the same night when Naranappa’s cadaver is stinking in his house, and when Chandri and Praneshacharya leave the forest at night for the agrahara.  They have come with food packed along with hot coffee, cigarettes and liquor bottles. The author mentions the name of the cigarette, Passing Show, a popular London based brand, sold in India during the pre and early post-independence era.  After the rehearsal when the rest of the boys leave, the five of them secretly take the liquor bottles and go towards the river in the dark.  On the river bank, sitting on a large sand-heap, they drink liquor and then out of guilt, they decide to give Naranappa his funeral rites without  the knowledge of others.  When they go upstairs, they don’t find his dead body. Then the fear of Naranappa becoming a spirit and walking away grips their heart.  This thought makes them run away from the house.  When they run away, the sleepless old lady, Half-Wit Lakshmidevamma who was roaming the deserted night street thinks that they were demons and shrieks, “Look, look at the demons!”.

Vocabulary

Page 72

1. Nefarious – adjective
   Meaning – wicked
   Example: Delighted by their own nefarious activity, they walked in the                                          dark towards the river.