Page:Broken Ties and Other Stories.pdf/125

 infinite; when it is lifted, the distance can be crossed in the twinkling of an eye. So it took no time at all. ‘I was in a dream,’ said Damini. ‘It wanted this shock to wake me. Between that “you” of mine and this “you” of mine, there was a veil of stupor. I salute my Master again and again, for it is he who dispelled it.’

‘Damini,’ I said, ‘do not keep your gaze on me like that. Before, when you made the discovery that this creation of God is not beautiful, I was able to bear it; but it will be difficult to do so now.’

‘I am making the discovery,’ she replied, ‘that this creation of God has its beauty.’

‘Your name will go down in history!’ I exclaimed, ‘The planting of the explorer’s fag on the South Pole heights was child’s play to this discovery of yours. “Difficult” is not the word for it. You will have achieved the impossible!’

I had never realised before how short our spring month of Phalgun is. It has only thirty days, and each of the days is not a minute more than twenty-four hours. With the infinite time which God has at His disposal, such parsimony I failed to understand!

‘This mad freak that you are bent on,’ said