Ramesh entered the large sitting-room where Hemamalini was standing at the window silently gazing at the street outside. He hesitated to take his stand beside her and he paused on the threshold with his eyes on her motionless figure. She took no notice of her lover, but gazed the more intently at the panorama of the streets. His voice trembled as he broke the silence. "I must beg something of you."
Hemamalini felt the pain that throbbed in his utterance and she turned towards him.
"Do not loose faith in me !" he cried ; "I call heaven to witness that I will never cease to deserve your trust." Not another word could he utter, and a film of tears gathered over his eyes.
Hemamalini looked up pityingly, and gazed steadfastly into his face ; then suddenly she melted, and the tears rolled down her cheeks. And so , as the lovers stood side by side in the seclusion of that window-bay, their eyes met. Though not a word spoken, a blissful peace descended on them both, and in rapture that it brought in its train they tasted heaven.
With a deep sigh of relief Ramesh broke the stillness. "Do you know why I suggested postponing our marriage for a week ?"he asked. Hemamalini shook her head. She did not want to know.
"I will tell you the whole story after we're married," said Ramesh. The allusion to their marriage brought a faint blush to the girl's cheek.
Early in the afternoon, imagining Ramesh's visit that evening, she had looked forward to much animated talk, confidential discussion of future plans, and lightly-sketched miniatures of the happiness that was to be theirs. She could never have imagined that in the space of a few hours they would exchange vows of constancy, that tears would be shed, that instead of conversing they would merely stand side by side, and she could not have conceived what full and complete peace of mind and implicit trust would be the sequel.
" You must go to my father at once," said Hemamalini ; " he's quite vexed."
Ramesh went off cheerfully, ready to bare his breast to any stab that the world might choose to inflict on him.
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