'No Patil, please don't misunderstand me.' Bayaji was a little dizzy with nervousness.

'How do you say that? One should keep to one's position. You shouldn't let a little money turn your head.'

'I only wish to build a shelter for my family. Then I shall be free to breathe my last.' Bayaji answered.

'Who says you shouldn't have a house? You can have a small house with three convenient portions, a veranda in the front and at the back and the living section in the middle. Why spend unnecessarily on a storeyed house?' Patil gave his counsel.

'No, but……' Bayaji faltered. 'You may go in for a storeyed house only if you don't wish to stay in this village. I hope you know what I mean.' Kondiba shot out as a warning and walked away.

Other ruffians in the village threatened Bayaji in a similar manner. Out of fear Bayaji had to abandon plans for the storeyed house. The conventional three-portioned house was taken up.

Work was resumed and the walls rose rapidly. The middle portion was a little elevated and a small first storey fixed up there with a wooden flooring. This part could be reached by stairs rising from the kitchen. No one could guess from outside that there was a first storey to the house. Bayaji had to make the best of things.

The house was complete and the traditional housewarming ceremony was planned.
Invitations were sent to relatives in different villages.
The village elders, by convention, could not be invited to a meal or refreshments, so they were invited to the ceremonial paan-supari.
Bayaji put up a fine pandal in front of the house.

His sons worked hard for two full days on the decorations. Relatives started arriving. Well-known devotional singers, Kadegaonkar Buwa, Parasu Buwa, Kalekar Bapu Master, Jija Buwa and Vithoba of Wadgaon came with their troupes.
People looked forward with delight to the forthcoming contest among the various troupes.

In the evening four petromax lights were hung in the four corners of the pandal.
It lent a unique golden yellow light to the surroundings. Guests were engrossed in conversation.

Kondiba Patil was soon there. With him was the thug Bhujaba and four or five seasoned rascals like Vithoba Ghayakute and Parasu Martanda.
These people felt uneasy at the sight of the brand new house, the impressive pandal and the crowd of smiling faces.