Summary

After the event with Bade Khan, Moorthy speaks to Rangamma and tells her that he will fast for three days, as “much violence had been done because of him and that were he full of ahimsa such things should never have happened” (61). He will only allow himself 3 cups of salted water each day and though everyone is very worried for him, Moorthy assures them that he will survive. He goes into deep meditation and Waterfall Venkamma challenges him with loud insults. Upon hearing this, Moorthy affirms to himself, “I shall love even my enemies. The Mahatma says he would love even our enemies” (62). While meditating, he appears very calm and realizes when Ratna came to visit him that, despite the marriage his mother wanted between the two of them, he could only ever see her as a sister. Rangamma comes to visit him...