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, why should I forget you ? I’ve known you since childhood, I’ve feared your moods since childhood, but if you’re trying to frighten me now, then you don’t know me at all!” and she gazed fearlessly up at him.

“You’ve always feared me and nothing else ?”

Parvati said steadily, “No, nothing else.”

“Liar! Tell the truth.”

“I’ll tell you this – truly - I can’t trust you , or rely on you. The man I’m going to marry, he is wealthy, and more than that, he is intelligent, steady, and moral. My parents, who love me, and wish me to be happy, would never give me away to a thoughtless, restless, devil-driven creature like you! Now let me go !.

Devdas hesitated, he even made to step aside, but in the next instant he sneered, “Aren’t we proud!”

Parvati said,”And why not ? You can stand tall, and I can’t ? You have beauty, but lack brains, but I have both! Your father may be rich, and powerful, but my father is not a beggar either. No, I’m in no way less than you, do you understand ?”

Devdas stood amazed.

Parvati continued,”You think you can hurt me, and yes, you can. So! Hurt me if you wish, but let me go!”

“Hurt you! How ?”

“By slandering me! Let me go!”

Devdas was still smouldering, and Parvati’s words hit him like blows.

He could only say, “I slander you !”

Parvati smiled mirthlessly, and her next words seared like venom,”You can tell the world how poor Parvati came to you at night, alone. Go, shout it to the four winds, if it gives you satisfaction.” And her lips quivered.

This was too much for Devdas; gripping his fishing rod, he rasped in a terrible voice, “Listen, Parvati, too much pride is not a good thing. Nor is too great a beauty. It increases vanity and pride.”

He paused,”That is why the beautiful moon has marks on it, that is why the black bee mars the beauty of the lotus by hovering on it. Your beautiful face deserves a mark too.”

With that, he brought the fishing-rod down hard, hitting her face and cutting it from cheek to eyebrow. Immediately, she was awash in blood.

Parvati fell to the ground, crying out, “Devda, what have you done !”

Devdas broke the rod in two and threw it into the river before replying.

“ Its nothing much, just a small cut.”

Parvati cried out again,”Oh, Devda!”

Devdas tore off a piece of his shirt, soaked it in water, washed the cut and bandaged it.

“Don’t be afraid, Paru! It will heal soon, perhaps it will leave scar. And if anyone asks you, you can answer truly how you came by it!”

“Oh, Great Mother, help me!” “For shame. Paru! This is our last farewell, I’m just leaving a little sign to remember me by. You will look in the mirror often, I’m sure, to see your lovely face, and you’ll