Pyre

by Perumal Murugan

‘What did you do to bewitch my son? How many men have you done this to?’

Saroja was beginning to feel that her life was like a plant that had been uprooted from where it had flourished and then abruptly displaced. Would its roots hold on to the earth in this unfamiliar place? Would the soil accept this new plant? Would the plant like the taste

The entire village bears a mark of impurity if there is a woman here whose caste or family are unknown. And if we start the festival here with this impurity in our midst, we might incur the wrath of Goddess Mariyatha.