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“No,” I said, “what day is this? I’ve lost count of the days.”

“Friday,” he laughed.

“Would you agree,” I asked, “to stand for a photograph with me?”

“If a photographer is around by accident,” Gandhi replied. “I have no objections to being seen on a photograph with you.”

“That,” I said, “is the biggest compliment you have paid me.”

“Do you want compliments?” he inquired. “Don’t we all?” I said.

“Yes,” he agreed, “but sometimes we have to pay too dearly for them.”

I went home, got back into the tub, and typed out four questions which Gandhi had promised to answer in Harijan.

I felt that my interview with Gandhi today was of historic importance. He had changed his mind on what was the crucial issue for India; instead of his former statement that ‘The British Must Go,’ he had said to me, ‘The British can stay and conduct the war from India.’ In other words, he was ready to tolerate the war effort and, under certain circumstances, support it. His statements to me had indicated his readiness to compromise on the vital issue of Indian independence.

I lolled in my bed which stands in the open not far from the guest house. Kurshed warned me not