Kamala had been following the story with bated breath.
"I only know that much ; I don't know any more. Only the first volume of the book from which I got that tale has been published so far, and I have no idea when the next volume will be out," announced Ramesh.
Kamala having been listening the story very eagerly became impatient at the sudden breaking of the story,"No, no, that's not fair. You must tell me the rest. You're very mean ; it was too bad of you !" cried Kamala in vexation.
"It's the author you should be angry with. . . . I only want to ask you this : What was Chet Singh to do with Chandra ?", asked Ramesh to find the reaction of Kamala. She thought for a long time with her eyes on the river.
"I don't know what he could do ; I can't think at all," she said at last.
Ramesh paused a for a minute, then went on, "Should Chet Singh tell Chandra every thing ?"
"What funny things you say ! If he didn't tell her there would be an awful muddle ; it would be simply horrid ! Much better to tell the truth."
"Much better," repeated Ramesh mechanically ; he went on again after a pause : "Well, Kamala, supposing I were Chet Singh and you were Chandra, what could be my duty in that case and what would be yours ?"
"Supposing what ? Please don't apply such proposition to us ! I don't like it !" So saying Kamala rose abruptly from her chair and left him.
Left to himself Ramesh decided not to call Kamala back, for there was no doubt that she was seriously annoyed. He strove hard to solve the knotty problem that his conscience set him. Clearly, he must give up either Kamala or Hemamalini ; there was no possible compromise by which he could retain both in his life. Nor was there any doubt which way duty pointed.
Hemamalini had alternatives ; she could dismiss him from her mind and give her hand to another suitor ; but to forsake Kamala would be to cast her naked on the world. And yet-such a selfish being is man-Ramesh found no consolation in the fact that Hemamalini might forget him, that she had other resources, and that her sole salvation did not lie in him. Rather the thought intensified his craving for her. She seemed to hover before his vision, just out of reach, as though he had only to stretch out his hands to grasp her.
He had let his head fall on his hands as he meditated. In the distance a jackal howled and set some of the village dogs barking incontinently. He raised his head at the sound and his eyes fell on Kamala standing near him in the darkness by the rail. He rose from the chair.
"Haven't you gone to bed yet, Kamala ? It's quite late."
"Aren't you going to bed ?"
"I'm just going ; I've put my bedding in the starboard cabin. You shouldn't wait up any longer."
Kamala crept silently away to the cabin which had been allotted to her, very hesitantly for she dreaded solitude in the night with the sounds of jackals and dogs. She couldn't bring herself to tell Ramesh that she was afraid of going to bed alone. The obvious reluctance shown in her dragging gait caused Ramesh a pang.
"Don't be afraid, Kamala," he called to her, "my cabin is next to yours and I'll leave the door open between them."
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