"The Night Train at Deoli" by Ruskin Bond. Part 3
This time I did not forget her. She was with me for the rest of the journey, and for long afterwards. All that year she was a bright, living thing in my mind. And when college finished, I packed and left for Dehra earlier than usual. My grandmother would be pleased at my eagerness to see her.
I was anxious as the train entered Deoli, because I was wondering what I should say to the girl and what I should do. I was determined not to stand helplessly in front of her, unable to speak or express my feelings.
The train came to Deoli, and I looked up and down the platform, but I could not see the girl anywhere.
I opened the door and stepped on to the platform, deeply disappointed, and fearing the worst. I ran up to the stationmaster and said, 'Do you know the girl who used to sell baskets here?'
'No, I don't,' he replied. 'And you'd better get on the train if you don't want to be left behind.'
But I walked up and down the platform, and stared past the station buildings. All I saw was a tree and a dusty road leading into the jungle. Where did the road go? The train was moving out of the station, and I had to run up the platform and jump for the door of my compartment. Then, as the train gathered speed, I sat miserably in front of the window.
What could I do about finding a girl I had seen only twice, who had said very little to me, and about whom I knew nothing — absolutely nothing — but for whom I felt a fondness and responsibility that I had never felt before?
My grandmother was not pleased with my visit after all, because I only stayed at her place for a couple of weeks. Feeling restless and worried, I took the train back, intending to ask further questions of the stationmaster at Deoli.
But at Deoli there was a new stationmaster. The previous man had been moved to another station, and the new man didn't know anything about the girl who sold baskets. I found the owner of the tea stall, and asked him if he knew anything about the girl with the baskets.
'Yes, there was such a girl here, I remember quite well,' he said. 'But she has stopped coming now.'
'Why?' I asked. 'What happened to her?'
'How should I know?' he said. 'She was nothing to me.' And once again I had to run for the train.
Vocabulary
afterwards - впоследствии
eagerness - рвение, желание
determined - решительный, непреклонный
helplessly - беспомощно, бессильно
to be left behind - отстать, остаться позади
I walked up and down - Я ходил взад и вперед
compartment - купе
fondness - нежность, привязанность
restless - беспокойный, неусидчивый