66
THE WRECK
duties. He may have given you some explanation that you're keeping to yourself, but that isn't enough; he has still to explain matters to us. To tell the truth, Hem, at present it's more our concern than yours to hear his explanation. Once you're married we shan't have much more say," and Jogendra hurried off.
Of the veil with which lovers seek to shroud their ways not a shred remained! The bond between Ra- mesh and Hemnalini — a bond which in their fond hopes would grow more intimate with the passage of time till it created for the two a world apart — had become a target for the missiles of unsympathetic outsiders.
The onset of the storm so agitated Hemnalini that she shrank even from the sight of her friends and relations. After Jogendra's departure she sank into a chair and spent the rest of the day in the seclusion of her room.
As Jogendra left the house he met Akshay, who greeted him with *'Hullo, Jogen, you've turned up! Have you heard about it? What do you think of it all?"
Jogendra. "I've thought a lot about it; I don't propose to go on talking it over and making useless conjectures. It's no time for sitting round the tea- table, splitting psychological hairs."
Akshay. "Splitting hairs isn't much in my line, as you know, any more than psychology or philosophy or poetry. I'm a man of action — that's what I came to tell you."
"All right, I'm for action," said the impetuous Jogendra. "Can you tell me where Ramesh has gone ?" "I can." "Where?"
"Shan't tell you yet," said Akshay. "I'll confront you with him at three this afternoon."
"Why can't you tell me what it's all about?" cried
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