Buried Love

This romantic life in kashmir was drawing to its end after three glorious months.Miss John was leaving a week earlier than Mrs.Rhodes,and about two days before she left I look her alone to the hotel for dinner.We walked to the hotel in perfect silence,a silence so heavy that I could hardly breathe.The hotel seemed to be

far away and yet not far enough.That night, as I served her at table the temptation to touch her was overpowering, and I  had almost  forgotten myself when I dropped  her coffee cup.which made me pull myself  together and realize my position and my caste.On the way home there was a bridge over the canal to be crossed.She stopped on the bridge without a word, So  I stopped beside her looking onto the clam water of the canal shining between the gigantic chenar trees.In the distance a gramophone was playing and the music floated over the water.We stood for a long time without saying a word to each other.I think the parting was disturbing her.There was something which she could not have explained and which she was trying to express.It might have been just a fancy of her own,or it may have been the subconscious knowledge of the secret,consuming passion of her attendant that was affecting her on this calm and beautiful night as we tarried on the bridge.It seemed to me that we stood there for ages,as if neither of   us dare break the magic spell of night and music.Our houseboat was only a few yards from the bridge, and "Good Night" was the only word that passed between us.As we parted everything then went into the darkness.The mail lorry came up to the bridge to take her away from the romantic city of srinagar and away from me.After she had taken her seat I put a woolen rug over  her knees to keep her warm on the journey, and she handed me a ten rupee note as a parting gift and sweetly said ''Good Bye".I watched her hand till the lorry was out of sight.Then I realized what I had lost and lost forever..