Page:Broken Ties and Other Stories.pdf/88

 Satish departed. Damini did not send for me to read to her any more, nor had she anything else to ask of me. Neither did I see her going to her friends, the women of the neighbourhood. She kept her room, with closed doors.

Some days passed thus. One afternoon, when the Master was deep in his siesta, and I was writing a letter seated out on our veranda, Satish suddenly turned up. Without so much as a glance at me, he walked straight up to Damini’s door, knocking as he called: ‘Damini, Damini.’

Damini came out at once. A strangely altered Satish met her inquiring gaze. Like a storm-battered ship, with torn rigging and tattered sails, was his condition,—eyes wild, hair dishevelled, features drawn, garments dusty.

‘Damini,’ said Satish, ‘I asked you to leave us. That was wrong of me. I beg your forgiveness.’

‘Oh, don’t say that,’ cried the distressed Damini, clasping her hands.

‘You must forgive me,’ he repeated. ‘I will never again allow that pride to overcome me, which led me to think I could take you or leave you, according to my own spiritual requirements. Such sin will never cross my mind again, I promise you. Do you also promise me one thing?’