Parvati turned thirteen. This is that strange and magical time when a child suddenly looks like a woman,with all the sweet curves of youth, when her relatives are astonished to find that their little girl has vanished, and her place usurped by a lovely tender woman.

Then they begin to whisper of marriage, they cast through their minds lists of fortunate bridegrooms-to-be. So it happened in the Chokrovorty house, and many such discussions were held. Parvati ‘s mother grieved to her husband, “Ah, we’ll not be able to keep Paru with us much longer.”

They were not wealthy, just moderately well-off, but if beauty has any value in the world then Parvati had nothing to worry about, she was wealthy. Now, there’s another thing that I should mention – in the Chokrovorty family, a girl fetched a bride-price... Parvati’s father, Nilkontho, however, hated this practice. He felt that this was too much like selling his daughter. Parvati’s mother knew how he felt, and worried that this would get in the way of her daughter ever getting married.

So friom time to time, she would remind Nilkontho that Parvati was of marriageable age.

Besides this, she had nourished a secret hope – that Devdas would one day be her son-in-law. She did not think this an impossibility, she thought that one day she would talk to Devdas, and see how the land lay there. Perhaps Nilknotho’s mother sensed this, and maybe that is why, one day, she spoke to Devdas’s mother.

“Ah, my dear, what friendship there is between your Devdas and our Paru! Its so rare to find such true friends.”

Devdas’ mother said,” It’s only natural, Auntie. Haven’t the two of them grown up together like brother and sister ? Twins, almost.”

“Oh, yes, my dear. Don’t you remember when Devdas first went away to Calcutta, Paru pined and cried, and she was just eight years old! And what joy, what happiness when she received a letter from him. We all know that.”

Devdas’ mother understood what lay beneath these words. In her heart she smiled a little, because she loved Parvati, but more than that she felt a great sorrow, again because she loved both Parvati and her son. This is misfortune, she felt, for Parvati’s family took a bride-price for their daughters. This was too much like the buying and selling of humans, and besides , it was bad luck to have in-laws living next door. And worse – her impulse-driven son and that tomboy Parvati – all very well as childhood friends – but married ? It did not bode well.

Aloud she said, “Auntie, it’s my husband’s wish that Devdas should complete his education before he marries. See what happened to my eldest Dwijdas He married early and his education stopped there.”

Parvati’s grandmother was taken aback. She tried once more.

“I understand, my dear. Yet, Paru, you know has grown, will continue to grow …”

Devdas’ mother stopped her.

“No, Auntie, I cannot mention this to my husband. If I even raise the subject of Devdas’ marriage, he’ll be displeased.”

So the matter ended – but Devdas’ mother could not put the idea aside. At dinnertime, she said casually to her husband,

“Paru’s grandmother was talking of her marriage.”

He nodded.

“True ,she’s grown up. They should be doing something about her.”

“That’s exactly it. Auntie mentioned Devdas.”

Narayan frowned.

“And how did you reply ?”

Discouraged by the frown, she said

“What could I say ? They are the greatest of friends. But in a marriage ? Besides, - blood-lines, you know.”

Satisfied, Narayan nodded.

“We are a great family, don’t forget that. An impulsive, thoughtless marriage can be a disaster for the family.”

His wife forced a stiff smile.

“No, no, I paid no attention to the idea,” she backed down.

Well, the principal actors in this play may have buried the matter, but walls have ears, as they say. Whispers and gossip spread until it reached Nilkontho’s ears.

Angry and distressed, he confronted his mother.

“Mother, how could you embarrass me in this way ?”

Nilknotho’s mother stood silent. What could she say ?

Nilkontho continued, “We do not have to beg anyone to come and marry Paru . On the contrary, the grooms will come begging for her hand! My daughter is a beautiful gem, and I promise you, within a month, no – within a week – she will have the choicest of grooms. She need not worry about anything.”

But what of her, for whose sake her father spoke so emphatically ?

Parvati felt as though the sky had fallen and smashed her world. All her life, she’d felt she had some rights over Devdas. At the prospect of losing him, a horrid tumult raged in her heart and dizzied her head.

But Devdas ? Did he feel as Parvati did ? No, I’m afraid he did not. In childhood, he had been her playmate and master, but during the years in Calcutta, studies, amusements, distractions had absorbed him. He did not realize that Parvati , in her simple, undistracted life, thought constantly of him. Thought of him throughout her childhood, and now, taking cautious steps into womanhood, faltered, found that all she had taken for granted – life’s enduring friendships – dissolving before her.

How would a friendship such as theirs endure all through life? not without marriage.

When Devdas had returned after his long absence, when she was no longer a child, he had visited, but there had been a constraint between them, the old ease had gone. Now Devdas studied in the morning, rested in the afternoon, took his walk in the evening. He wore his fine leather shoes , his city clothes, and passed by Parvati’s house. She would observe him from her window, and often her tears would flow. She would remember their happy times together and hated the uneasiness that lay between them now.

Devdas too, remembered the old days. Sometimes he