I wanted to put her on the train, and take her away with me. I hated the idea of having to watch her disappear into the distance of Deoli station. I took the baskets from her hand and put them down on the ground. She put out her hand for one of them, but I caught her hand and held it.
‘I have to go to Delhi.’ I said.
She nodded. ‘I do not have to go anywhere.’
The guard blew his whistle for the train to leave. How I hated him for doing that!
‘I will come again,’ I said. ‘Will you be here?’
She nodded again, and as she nodded, the bell rang and the train started to move. I had to pull my hand away from the girl and run for the moving train.