Later that morning, Devdas sought out his father and spoke to him for a while. After listening to him , his father said ,” You’ve always been a thorn in my side and you will plague me till I die! Why am I not surprised to hear such a tale from your lips ! “

After a short silence, he continued, “I’ll have nothing to do with this! Go settle whatever you have to do with your mother.”

When Devdas’s mother heard all this, she wept. “So this what my future held!” she cried.

Later that day, Devdas left for Calcutta.

Parvati heard the news with a expressionless face, but her heart felt as though as it was .being squeezed under the weight of heavy stones. No one knew of last night’s story, and she did not tell any one. Monoroma came to see her, “Paru, I heard Devdas left for Calcutta.”

“Yes.”

“Then what is to be done ?”

What was to be done ? Parvati did not know herself, what could she say to anyone?

She had given all her mind to one end, and that had culminated in last night’s action. She had not realised how high her hopes were, or to what depths of despair she would sink if they were dashed. Being human she clung to hope – Devdas would return, he would say

“Parvati, you are my life, I cannot bear to give you up to another!”

But a few days later, Parvati received a letter, a terrible letter,

“Parvati, I have been thinking about you constantly for the past few days. My parents disapprove of our match. If I make you happy, I will make them unhappy. I can’t do that, I can’t go against them. I do not know when I will write to you next, so I will try to explain as clearly and fully as I can – your station in life is low. Your family buys and sells their brides and daughters, you are my neighbor, which my mother considers unlucky. My father – well, you know all that - . It hurts me dreadfully to remember that night, I know how proud you are, how wounded you will feel, how much pain this must cause you, yes, I know all this.

Another thing – I have always been fond of you, you’re my friend from childhood, but I don’t believe I’ve ever been ‘in love’ with you, I have never loved you in the way a man may love a woman. Even now, I’m not desolated by your absence, my only sorrow is that I have caused you sorrow. Try , try to forget me.

With heartfelt wishes for your happiness,

I remain your friend, Devdas.”

Until he had mailed the letter, this was how Devdas felt, but no sooner had he mailed it, than Devdas characteristically began to feel differently. As a child, he had, in some impulsive rage, thrown stones at friends and regretted it as soon as the stone had left his hand. So it was now – how would the stone that he’s hurled at Parvati strike her ? Would it be a death- blow ? Would she truly seek out the river and soothe her burning grief it its cool waters ? No, he had not done a good thing. His parents disapproved, certainly. But had they explicitly forbidden him to marry her ? After all, what did status really mean – Parvati herself was as good and true as any noblewoman. If she died, would God forgive him ?

Back in his room, for he now lived in a rooming-house with other students as his uncle’s house had become too restrictive for him, he lay on his bed too listless for any activity. In the room next to his, lived Choonilal, a perennial student, who had been in the process of acquiring a B.A. degree for the past nine years. Choonilal was rarely to be seen during the day, he could be heard returning in the early hours of the morning. The evening lamps were lit, and the call to supper sounded but Devdas did not heed it, instead he locked his door and lay down again. Around one in the morning Choonilal , on the way to his room, paused in front of Devdas’s door. He called softly,

“Devdas! Are you awake?”

“You’re back early.”

“I wasn’t feeling my best, so I thought an early night judicious.” he walked on .

In a few minutes however, he was back. “Devdas, may I come in?”

“Why?”

“Do you have any tobacco?”

“Yes.” Devdas opened the door.

Choonilal filled his pipe, and when it was drawing to his satisfaction, inquired,

“Why are you still up, old boy?”

“Must one sleep every night?”

“Mustn’t one?” answered Choonilal. “I used to think you were a ‘good’ boy, never up and about late – This is a lesson for me!”

Devdas did not reply.

“I noticed a certain gloominess ever since you came back. Anything wrong?”

Still no answer.

“Not feeling well? “

Devdas sat up with a start. “ I say, Choony, have you never felt sorrow, any pain?”

Choonilal laughed , “Never!”

“Never in you life?”

“Why this question? Why now?”

“I just want to know?”

“Then you must wait for another day!”

“Choony, where do you go every night?”

Choonilal smiled briefly. “Don’t you know already?”

“Kind of.”

Now Choonilal’s face lit up with enthusiasm; narrowing his eyes at Devdas he joked, “Devdas, if you really want to know what I feel you must become like me! Do you want to come with me tomorrow?”

Devdas thought it over.

“I‘ve heard that there is great merriment in this place, that you can forget all pain – is this true?”

“Absolutely true!”

“If that is so, then take me with you. I want to go.”

The next evening when Choonilal came to Devdas’s room, he found him packing his suitcase. Puzzled, he asked, “Not