Page:Broken Ties and Other Stories.pdf/113

 That I cannot bear!—I must,’ she appeared to conclude, ‘make friends with the neighbours again, and see if I cannot contrive to keep away from the house.’

One night we were roused by a sudden shout: ‘Srivilas! Damini!’ It must have been past midnight, but Satish could not have taken count of the hour. How he passed his nights we knew not, but the way he went on seemed to have cowed the very ghosts into flight.

We shook off our slumbers, and came out of our respective rooms to find Satish on the flagged pavement in front of the house, standing atone in the darkness. ‘I have understood!’ he exclaimed as he saw us. ‘I have no more doubts.’

Damini softly went up and sat down on the pavement. Satish absently followed her example and sat down too. I also followed suit.

‘If I keep going,’ said Satish, ‘in the same direction along which He comes to me, then I shall only be going further and further away from Him. If I proceed in the opposite direction, then only can we meet.’

I silently gazed at his flaming eyes. As a geometrical truth what he said was right enough. But what in the world was it all about?