Early the next morning, Devdas returned home. His mother, astonished, asked,”Deva, has college closed again ?”

Devdas answered “Yes” in a abstracted way ,. To his father’s questions, he muttered something incomprehensible. When Devdas’s father asked his wife, she said “Perhaps the college closed because it’s still so hot.”

For a couple of days, Devdas fretted around. He hoped to see Parvati, and she never appeared. One day, Parvati’s mother, coming across him, said, “Since you’re here, Deva, why don’t you stay until the wedding ?”

Devdas said “Very well.”

After the midday meal, Parvati used to go out to fetch water from the well, carrying the large water pitcher on her hip. Today, she saw Devdas, sitting under the plum tree, with a fishing rod dangling in the river, not too far from the well. Her first impulse was to turn back and run home, her second was to get the water as quietly as possible and slip away, but she could do neither. She froze, her pitcher began to slide from the hand, and she had to set it down hurriedly. At the noise, Devdas looked up and beckoned, “Paru, come here.”

Slowly, Parvati moved toward him. Briefly, he looked at her, then gazed at the river. Finally, Parvati spoke, “Devda, did you want to tell me some thing ?”

Still not looking at her, Devdas said, “Yes, sit down.”

Paravti did not sit down, but remained standing, looking down at him.

Devdas did not speak. After several minutes of silence, Parvati slowly turned and began walking away.

Then Devdas called,”Listen…”

Parvati returned.

Still Devdas did not speak, again Parvati turned and walked away. Devdas sat like a stone, silent, until he saw her fill the pitcher and turn towards home. He rolled up the fishing line and walked up to her.

“I’ve come,” he informed her.

Parvati stared coldly at him.

“I’m here, Paru!”

Parvati asked,” Why ?”

“You wrote, don’t you remember ?”

“No.”

“Paru! What do you mean ? Don’t you remember that night ?”

“I remember, but why speak of it ?”

Her voice was steady and harsh, but Devdas did not understand.

He said, “Forgive me, Paru, I didn’t know.”

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear!”

“I’ll get my parents to agree, I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Parvati glared fiercely at him.

“Are you the only one with parents ? Don’t I have a mother and father too ? Don’t they matter too ? ” Devdas was ashamed. “Of course they matter, Paru! But they don’t object to our…”

“Who says they don’t object! They do object! Absolutely!”’

Devdas tried to smile and failed. “No, dear, they don’t object. I know it very well. If you will just …”

Parvati cut in sharply,”If I will! With you! For shame!”

At that, Devdas’s eyes blazed, but his voice was icy , ” Parvati! Have you forgotten me?”

At first, Parvati was speechless, then she recovered herself and replied in a low, harsh voice,”No,