It was around one o’clock in the morning. A faint moonlight illuminated the sky. Parvati rose from her bed, and wrapped herself from head to toe in her bed-sheet. With slow, sure steps she descended the stairs. She looked about her – no one had awakened. Noiselessly, she unlocked the door and slipped outside. The village lay still ,silent and motionless, before her. She was unlikely to meet anyone on the village path. Without any hindrance, she arrived at the manor house. The old gatekeeper, Kishan Singh, dozed in his chair, a book of scriptures, the Ramayana, lay open on his lap. As Parvati approached, he muttered without looking up, “Who’s there ?”

Parvati answered, “It’s I.”

Hearing a woman’s voice, Kishan Singh thought it was one of the maidservants. He returned to intoning the Ramayana drowsily. Parvati continued on her way. It was summer, and many of the servants had brought their cots outside, to sleep in the cool night air. Most were asleep, some were dozing, no one gave Parvati a second glance. Unchecked, Parvati entered the great house and ascended the stairs. She knew this house like her own, and in a moment she was in front of Devdas’s room. The door was ajar, she could see the lamp still burning dimly. She slipped in quietly and stood looking down at him. Devdas lay asleep on his bed, a book lay open by his hand, as if he had just fallen asleep. The only sound was the ticking of the clock on the wall. Parvati placed her hand gently on his foot and called softly, “Devda!”

Deep in sleep, Devdas sensed that someone was calling him.

He murmured “ Ummm ?”

“Oh, Devda !”

Now Devdas opened his eyed and sat up. He saw Parvati’s face in the dim glow of the lamp, he knew at once that it was she, and could not believe it.

“ Paru ! is it you ?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

Devdas looked up at the clock, and his disbelief grew.

“So late in the night ?”

Parvati did not reply. She sat silently with lowered eyes.

Devdas asked again,”Did you come alone, so late in the night ?”

Parvati said “Yes.”

Now Devdas jumped up “ Why ? and weren’t you afraid ?”

Parvati smiled, “I have never been afraid of ghosts.”

“Maybe you’re not afraid of ghosts! But what about people ?”

Parvati said nothing, but she thought, “At this point of time, I don’t even fear people.”

“How did you get in ? Did anyone see you ?”

“The gate-keeper saw me.”

“He saw you! And who else ?”

“The servants sleeping outside may have noticed me.”

Devdas leapt up from the bed , ran to the door and locked it.

“Did anyone recognize you ?”

“They all know me. It’s possible someone did recognize me.”

Devdas stuttered, “You don’t say! How could you do this, Paru ?”

Parvati thouhjt to herself, “How can I make you understand ? ”, yet she remained silent, eyes lowered.

Devdas continued, “It’s past midnight ! How will I show my face in the morning ?”

Parvati replied, “I have courage enough.”

Devdas did not get angry, but he showed signs of extreme agitation.

“You are still so childish! Coming here like this – didn’t you feel any twinge of shame ?”

Parvati shook her head.

“And tomorrow ? Will you be so brave then ?”

At this, Parvati looked up beseechingly at Devdas.

“ Tomorrow ? Yes indeed. I would not have come if I hadn’t been sure of one thng, - that you would remove all shame for me.”

“I! And what of my shame ?”

“You are a man. Peoplewill forget. In a few days no one will remember how poor, feckless Parvati came to you in the middle of the night, careless of her reputation, to ask you for a place by your side.”

“ Paru !”

“And I …” she paused.

As if spellbound, Devdas echoed “And you ?”

“I am not dishonored! There is no dishonor in this for me. If people say ugly things about me, that kind of talk will simply wash away !”

“What’s this, Paru ? You’re crying !”

“ Devda ! There’s so much water in the river ! Isn’t there enough there to cover my shame ?”

Devdas bent low and gripped her hands, “Parvati!”

In a choking voice Parvati whispered, “Give me a place by your side, Devda!”

Then both were silent.

Much later Devdas raised Parvati’s face to his, and asked,

“Paru, will no one else do for you but me ?”

Parvati said nothing. The only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock and her breath, harsh and sobbing. Just then, the clock struck two.

“ Paru !”

“ Yes ?”

“You know my parents don’t want this marriage ?”

“So I heard . “ “Then why ?”

Parvati held on to Devdas as though she was drowning.

“I don’t want to know anything, Devda!”

“Paru, should we disregard our parents ?”

“Why not ? Yes.”

“And where will you stay ?”

“With you.”

Again the two were silent. The clock struck four, reminding them that the summer dawn would soon lighten the sky.

Taking Parvati by the hand, Devdas said “I will take you home.”

“You will come with me ?”

“Why not ? There may be some hope yet.”

“Then let’s go.”

Silently the two proceeded outside.