Another Customer Makes a Serious Accusation
The following morning, another customer visited Ramaraju's shop and purchased wheat flour.
The man was part of Shoban and Munnivaran's plan.
Later, his family members complained of feeling unwell. The man immediately went around the village announcing that everyone in his house had fallen sick after eating food prepared with the flour purchased from Ramaraju's shop.
Within an hour, several villagers gathered outside the man's house.
"What happened?"
"Everyone is sick!"
"What did they eat?"
The man quickly replied, "We bought wheat flour from Ramaraju yesterday. It must have contained something poisonous!"
The villagers were alarmed.
"First the milk, now the flour! How can we trust his shop?"
Ramaraju hurried to the house after hearing the news.
"Please take them to a doctor immediately," he urged. "Their health is more important than this argument. I will cooperate with any investigation."
But Shoban interrupted him.
"Of course you would say that! You are trying to escape responsibility."
Ramaraju turned towards him.
"If you truly believe my flour is contaminated, let us have it tested. I have nothing to hide."
Instead of agreeing to a test, Shoban continued shouting.
The sick family was taken for medical treatment. Meanwhile, the accusation spread throughout the village.
Nobody waited for the doctor's findings. Nobody checked the flour.
The rumour had become the truth in the eyes of the villagers.