Ramesh had decided to start practising law at Alipore Court. But he was heartbroken. He did not have the enthusiasm to work with a calm mind and overcome the obstacles that would come between him and his endeavours. For a few days, he wandered aimlessly on the bridge over the river and around Goldighi.
"Should I travel?" he asked himself, but everytime he was left with a heartful of sigh.
It was then, when he received a letter from Annada-babu, Hemnalini's father. He had written, 'The Gazette says that you have passed your examinations – I am disappointed not to have heard the good news from you. We have had no news of you in a long time. I would be reassured and happy if you informed me how you are and when you propose to visit Calcutta.'

Ramesh could not decide whether it would be appropriate to meet Hemnalini, considering all that had taken place in the meantime. He did not consider it his duty to tell anyone about his relationship with Kamala, for he did not wish to have the innocent young woman humiliated. But how would he regain his position in Hemnalini’s eyes unless he told her everything? And yet, it would not be proper to delay his reply to Annada-babu’s letter.
Ramesh wrote:
'I have been unable to meet you owing to unavoidable circumstances. I seek your forgiveness.'
He did not add his new address. Posting the letter, Ramesh appeared at the Alipore Court the very next day in the garb of a lawyer, hoping to busy himself in the mundane complexities of legal affairs.
However, on his way back one evening, he was about to engage a carriage a few steps away from the court when he heard a familiar voice say exclaim excitedly,
"Baba, there’s Ramesh-babu! Coachman, stop!"
And the carriage drew to a halt next to Ramesh.
Annada-babu and his daughter were on their way back from a picnic at the zoo when they spotted him. As soon as Ramesh saw Hemnalini’s familiar serene elegance, her special way of draping her sari around herself, the hairdo which he knew so well, her austere bracelet and two pairs of gold bangles, his heart seemed to lurch upwards into his throat, the old flame lingering in his heart once again.

"There you are, Ramesh," said Annada-babu, "how lucky to meet you on the road. You have stopped writing to us, and even when you do, you don’t give your address. Where are you going now? Anything important?"

"No, just on my way home from the court," Ramesh replied politely.

"Then you must come home with us for a cup of tea."

Ramesh’s heart was full – there was no room for hesitation in it. He climbed into the carriage. Making a great effort to overcome his inhibitions, he said to Hemnalini,
"I hope you are well."

But Hemnalini looked away, her red lips were a little puffier than usual.
Without responding to his enquiry about her health, she said,
"You did not inform us that you had passed your examinations."

Unable to answer this, Ramesh said,
"I saw that you have passed too."

"At least you still keep yourself informed about us," Hemnalini smiled, but there was a hint of sarcasm in that smile, and it pierced Ramesh's heart like an old needle.

Annada-babu asked, "Where do you live nowadays?"

"Darzipara,"Ramesh replied.

"But there was nothing wrong with your old accommodation at Colootola," remarked Annada-babu, and Hemnalini looked expectantly at Ramesh in anticipation of his answer.

Her ocean deep eyes bore into Ramesh, and he answered at once,
"Yes, I have decided to go back to the same house."

Ramesh had realized clearly that Hemnalini considered his change of address a misdemeanour. Knowing that he could offer no excuse pained him. No other questions were asked, and Hemnalini stared at the road outside. Unable to contain himself, Ramesh offered a redundant justification.

"A relative of mine lives near Hedua, I took up residence at Darzipara so that I can attend to his needs."

While not a complete lie, the argument seemed implausible. Was Hedua too far from Colootola to be visited? Hemnalini’s eyes remained fixed on scenes outside the carriage, and a hapless Ramesh had no idea what else to say. He could only ask, "So what news of Jogen?"

Annada-babu sighed at his question,
"He failed in his law examination and has decided to travel."

Ramesh had chosen to remain silent the rest of the way, and neither did Hemnalini make any efforts to converse.
When they reached their destination, the familiar house and its interiors cast their spell on Ramesh, making a sigh emerged from his heart.
Isn't this what was meant for him, this moments, this evening, this beautiful lady sitting infront of him?
Then why was he pinning for something which can never be his!

Ramesh proceeded to drink his cup of tea without a word, until suddenly Annada-babu asked him,
"You spent a long time at home – did you have a lot of business to attend to?"

Ramesh was silent for a moment, and keeping his cup down, he swallowed a lump and spoke slowly,
"My father passed away."

That one sentence had suddenly changed the ambience of the room.
"What! How terrible. How did it happen?" Hemnalini had almost jumped up.

"He was returning home on the Padma when a storm capsized the boats, causing him to drown."

Just like a gust of wind that clears the sky in an instant, this tragic news dissolved the disquiet between Ramesh and Hemnalini. Hem told herself repentantly, 'I misunderstood Ramesh-babu – he was overcome with grief at losing his father. Possibly he is still distracted by it. We blamed him without knowing of the crisis in his family and the burden on his heart.'

Hemnalini proceeded to take extra care of the fatherless young man. Ramesh had no appetite but she pleaded with him to eat.
"You have become so thin," she pouted her lips, "don’t neglect your health."
And, to her father she said,
"Why doesn’t Ramesh-babu have dinner with us, Baba?"

"Certainly," Annada-babu too had replied promptly, and Ramesh didn't feel the need to hesitate further.

Akshay had arrived at this moment. He had ruled single-handedly over Annada-babu’s tea sessions for some time. Today he was astonished to see Ramesh here. Restraining himself, he said with a smile,
"Oh, it’s Ramesh-babu! I thought you had quite forgotten us."

Ramesh smiled without answering. Akshay continued, "Considering the speed with which your father arrested and whisked you away, I thought he was determined to get you married … I hope there’s no threat of that any more."

Hemnalini cast an irritated look at Akshay and Annada-babu added,
"Ramesh has lost his father, Akshay."

Ramesh sat quietly, with his eyes downcast, and Hemnalini was irked with Akshay for adding to Ramesh’s agony. Turning to Ramesh, she said quickly,
"We haven’t shown you our new album yet, Ramesh-babu."
Fetching the album, she held Ramesh's wrist at once, making him look up at her, and she drew him to one end of the table and began to discuss the photographs. Their fingers brushed again, their words became a hush, and a little later Hemnalini asked softly,
"You live alone in your new house, don’t you, Ramesh-babu?"

"Yes," Ramesh tried to smile.

"Then don’t take too much time to move in next door," Hemnalini kept her hand on his and pressed his palm a little.

"No, I shall definitely move next Monday," said Ramesh.

----

Ramesh had wasted no time moving back to his old home. The slight distance that had sprung up between Hemnalini and Ramesh disappeared entirely. Ramesh became one of the family again. The atmosphere grew joyous. Hemnalini’s intensive academic pursuit had lent her a fragile appearance. It seemed as though a strong gust of wind might break her back. She had even grown to be reticent, and everyone was afraid to talk to her, lest she take offence at the most harmless statement. But a miraculous transformation now took place in a short period. A rosy hue appeared on her pale cheeks. Her eyes danced with laughter every now and then. Earlier, she used to consider paying attention to one’s attire a sign of frivolity, even a transgression. Only the Almighty could tell how she had changed her mind about this without entering into an argument. Weighed down by responsibilities, Ramesh used to be no less despondent.
His body and mind had both slowed down under the inexorable need to exercise his judgement constantly. Like an observatory whose complicated array of instruments had forced it into inactivity while the dazzling stars and planets in the sky continued their way, Ramesh too had turned inert under the sheer weight of his academic compulsions. But what had made him so unburdened today? When, earlier, he could not come up with a retort to a barb, he burst into laughter these days. He had not actually begun combing his hair yet but his garments were no longer as soiled as they used to be. There was new life in his body and mind.

"Hem!" He had called her one evening.
"I need to tell you something... Would you meet me at the terrace tonight?"

Hemnalini smiled and looked down instantly, a glint of shyness had painted her eyes at once.
"I'll." She ran away.