Aruna vacillated outside Nandini's room, restlessly fiddling with her mobile phone. 

She was very eager to talk to Nandini to find out more about her experience of going on the drive with Prithvi, but she didn't want to come across as being crassly inquisitive or suspiciously enthusiastic. It was way too early for Nandini to find out about her wedding dreams.

Aruna looked distractedly at the phone when it started to vibrate, and then smiled gleefully on seeing that the call was from Prithvi.

"Prithvi, thank you for taking Nandini on the drive," she said warmly, walking away from Nandini's room. "She had a really nice time."

"It was my pleasure, Mrs Garewal" Prithvi murmured, resisting the urge to ask if it was her imagination that Nandini had had a nice time. There was no chance in hell that she would have had the guts to tell the Garewals anything like that, he thought with a flare of irritation. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop by," he continued, sidestepping his juvenile mental rants. "Had to attend to some work commitments."

"That's absolutely fine, we understand," Aruna assured. "But I do hope you'll be able to visit us soon," she asked eagerly.

"I hope so too," Prithvi said lightly. With all that had been happening in his life, he couldn't be certain about anything he would or would not be doing over the next few days...

A scary thought struck Aruna out of the blue. Why hadn't she thought about it until now!

"Prithvi, does anyone at the house know you had gone on this drive?" she asked with a forced casualness.

Amused, Prithvi replied, "No, Mrs Garewal." 

"Oh okay, I hope we could let it remain a secret then," Aruna laughed weakly, vastly relieved. "I wouldn't want your family to think we pulled you away from your work." And she definitely didn't want the news to reach the queen. A woman of Priyamvada's age and experience would immediately know what she was up to, and she wanted her plans to be under wraps for as long as possible.

"Sure, no problem. It will remain a secret," Prithvi said solemnly. He could virtually see his mother hovering around the poor woman's head like a ghastly spectre...

When the call had ended moments later, he realised he was very close to the mansion. His friends and family would be in the midst of dinner now. 

At the moment, the thought of engaging in meaningless talk felt as appealing as Indrajit's obsession with the family sword. He was not in any mood for conversation. Not even with himself...

Prithvi continued driving on the main road for a minute, then he took a turn to the right and began heading to one of his favourite spots in the area.

***********************

Nandini glanced frequently at the clock as she changed into her nightdress, quickly put on a sweater, and combed her hair. 

She had been in her room for about half an hour now. After returning to the room, she had unconsciously spent a quarter of an hour simply sitting on the bed, not thinking about anything in particular but just happily savouring an indescribable sense of wellbeing and joy and warmth.

And then she'd happened to look at herself in the mirror. Her lips had looked redder than usual. But that she could thankfully blame on the tinted lip balm that Aruna had given her. Her hair had looked dishevelled. Oddly, it had disappointed her to see that it had remained in a plait...

She had come to her senses only when she'd heard the balcony door being shut, and realised the Garewals would be waiting for her to go downstairs and have dinner.

And it was then that she had abruptly recalled what she had said to the Garewals in an emotionally distracted moment. That the drive had been "wonderful" and she had enjoyed it, Nandini remembered with a wince. 

She would have to be careful not to speak so glowingly of anything related to Prithvi in the future. Her family and the Garewals thought she disliked Prithvi, and she wasn't ready to let go of that particular myth yet, since it had proven to be very useful to her many times in the past. 

She had to tone down her words when she spoke of the drive again, and she also had to give an explanation for the long time they had taken to return.

Nandini absently looked at herself in the mirror as she tied up her hair into a bun and fastened it with a clip.

She hadn't cut her hair in a long time. It was at her waist now, about the length it had been when she'd first met Prithvi years ago. It had been shorter when they had met at the stepwell. Had he noticed that...

There were two knocks on the door, and she heard Aruna's voice calling out to her.

Nandini hurried to open the door and smiled at Aruna while hoping her anxiety wasn't showing on her face.

"So tell me more about the drive, Nanhi," Aruna said enthusiastically, sitting down on the bed. "Where did you both go?"

"I don't know the names of the places, aunty," Nandini said feebly, walking to the cupboard and pretending to rearrange her clothes to hide the crimson on her cheeks. "Prithvi just drove around for a long time."

"You didn't get down anywhere?"

"No," Nandini mumbled. "But I loved the scenic beauty of the area."

"Oh...alright. I hope you didn't have any problem with Prithvi," Aruna said anxiously. 

Her excitement was coming down. Nandini wasn't sounding very thrilled while talking about Prithvi. She had apparently been referring to the natural beauty of the area when she'd said she had enjoyed the drive. But it was fine. She would learn to like Prithvi too once she spent more time with him, and that was going to be more possible now since her husband had lost the right to protest too much, for some months at any rate.

"No, he was fine," Nandini said vaguely. "We didn't talk much actually. And we got late because we – we lost the way while returning. Because the roads and scenery all look similar and it had become so dark. It took us some time to figure out the right road."

"Oh...Prithvi is usually very good with directions," Aruna claimed. "And he's so polite! He had called me just now to apologise for not dropping by."

"He did? That's nice of him," Nandini said impassively, feeling more confident now that she had done some bit of damage control.

"Yes, he's a very nice boy," Aruna said earnestly. "And Nandini, if your uncle asks about the drive, please don't tell him anything negative," she requested.

Nandini turned and looked at Aruna in surprise.

Aruna smiled sheepishly and said, "We have a bet. He said you wouldn't like the drive because you don't like Prithvi, and I said you would. Don't let me lose, okay?"

Nandini laughed at the pleading expression on Aruna's face. "Never," she chuckled, and then raised a hand in blessing and solemnly said, "You have my blessing, my child. May you always win all of your bets and may all of your dreams come true."

With delight sparkling on her face, Aruna folded her hands and bowed down to Nandini, and then both laughed.

Aruna warmly said, "Come, let's go down and have dinner."

About an hour and a half later, Nandini returned to her room and put off the lights. She walked to the latticed window and pushed apart the curtains to look outside.

She could see the lights of some houses in the distance. It was a sweet, comforting sight in the moonlit night. But a turmoil in her heart was raging silently.

She'd walked into the house on an emotional high...but her feelings had settled down slowly. And now intense, nameless anxieties were creeping upon her, steadily cutting down the flowery forests that had sprouted in her heart some time ago.

What was the meaning of everything that had happened today.

The things Prithvi had said...the things he had done for her...and those unforgettable moments they had spent together...

What did it mean...for her...for Prithvi...for the lives they were leading....

And they had met the saint too, Nandini recalled with a start.

She had forgotten about him until now.

The short, mysterious encounter had somehow removed so much of her sadness and agitation. But something he said had unsettled her...yes, she remembered those words...

"Nothing is in your hands now. Everything is as it has to be. And everything will be as it needs to be."

Without warning, a vivid picture burst into life in front of her eyes. An image of Priyamvada with her innocent, trusting family. Priyamvada who was a wretched person, devoid of a heart or conscience. A person whom she could not forgive in this lifetime...

Nandini flinched from the window and retreated. The deeply unsettling confusion that had she'd been absorbed in vanished as instantly as if it had been swept away by a strong, chilling wind.

And it only left behind a desperate unhappiness and an unshakable resolve. 

Battling against a sudden flood of tears, Nandini closed the curtains, shutting out the light of the moon. She walked to the bed, and lay down on her side, salty drops of water trickling continuously out of her burning eyes.

Nothing had changed. Nothing that had happened during the day meant anything.

She would not let it mean anything, Nandini resolved fiercely while hot drops of water rolled down her cheeks.

Her love for Prithvi was more powerful than almost everything else in her life...but it wasn't stronger than her instinctive urge to make sure her family stayed happy and safe. And if she had to endure the shattering pain of being apart from him to make that happen, then so be it.

She had somehow survived without him for five years, hadn't she...even if it had been an utterly empty existence.

Nandini turned her face into the pillow, crying softly.

She could perhaps have continued to live like that for the rest of her life if he had not returned and made her understand just how agonizing those years without him had been...and how unthinkable it seemed to be separated from him again.

But it was the life she had chosen. And she would not go back on her decision at any cost...

It took hours for her tears to be exhausted, and when sleep eventually took over her, she instantly fell into the clutches of a strange dream.

She was surrounded by stone walls. Tall...towering walls...

She was walking through cavernous corridors, feeling the coldness of the stones beneath her feet. Her clothes were flowy and , glittering with sparkly gems.

She could hear loud sounds of anklets. They were hers...big golden anklets wrapped around her feet, heavy as chains. There were thick bangles around her wrists, large ornaments around her neck, in her ears, even on her forehead. The jewellery pieces were making enough sounds to alert the entire population of the fort. 

But the people wouldn't hear her. They were engrossed in celebrations. Lamps had been lit throughout the fort. Fireworks were brightening the sky frequently.

Now she was rushing towards a huge door. She tugged at the massive iron handles. But the door wouldn't open.

Breathing hard, she turned and went down another passageway in the light of flames that seemed to be coming out of the walls themselves. She was trying to move fast but it felt as though each step was taking an eternity, her feet were being dragged back by emotions she couldn't identify.

Was it fear...or anger...or something else...

She wanted to get out...or did she? Did she want to leave...or did she want to stay...

She didn't know...she truly didn't. The only thing she was becoming sure of was that the fort wouldn't let her escape...

It had claimed her for its own long ago...

**********************

The SUV wobbled faintly as it moved over an uneven winding path that wove through dense groves of tall trees. The greenery reduced abruptly at one point, and the track became rougher.

Prithvi stopped the car at a short distance from the large stream, on a land that was occupied by short grass, rocks and rounded pebbles in shades of white, grey and black, and thickets of flowers. An old wooden bridge spanned the width of the stream.

He walked lightly on the rocks until he'd reached the edges of the stream.

It was an enchanting sight in the light of the waxing moon.

He'd been in many such lovely, tranquil places in the past, but at those times, his inner state had usually been at odds with the outward stillness. Tonight, though, his emotions and his surroundings were in perfect sync.

He didn't want to think or analyse anything that had happened during the day. But one thought wouldn't leave him alone. The thought that the stupidity of his actions in the last 10-12 hours had surpassed the combined idiocy of the things he'd done since his return to India.

But in his defense, even now...even in this moment when most of him was absorbed in a sweet peacefulness because of Nandini, he knew there was no change in his fundamental stance towards her and this whole sappy drama.

There was no question of anything good emerging from this.

He would never let her become a part of his life again.

He would never let himself become that vulnerable to her or anyone else again. No emotional turmoil would ever be severe enough to convince him to take that life-destroying risk for the second time.

However, for tonight, he could allow himself to enjoy this beautiful quietness within himself.

For tonight, he could let himself believe in this illusory feeling that that everything - every little element – in his world - was right...exactly as it should be...perfect...

And there was a tomorrow...that there were many tomorrows in which she would be beside him...

******************************

Priyamvada accepted the cup of hot black tea from Haimavati while listening to the latter scold her gently for sitting outside in the cold morning without being adequately insulated against the chill in the air.

The woman had practically raised her, and knew that she wasn't affected much by cold weather, but that had never stopped her from giving these senseless reprimands.

But Priyamvada didn't say anything. She wasn't feeling very energetic at the moment, and she needed to conserve all of her mental strength to think about the events unfolding in her son's life. 

She was tired of being constantly one-upped by fate. It was a frustrating problem to have. One that most people wouldn't even consider a problem. After all, everything was unfolding in the direction that she wanted. However, it wasn't really going as per the strategies she had crafted with so much care.

She had intended for Rajeshwari to be the first link in the story, but she had not expected her to meet Nandini so soon, and she had certainly underestimated her brainless niece's desperation to find support for her disgusting plans.

She had wanted Nandini to see Rajeshwari being illtreated, and had counted on Disha for making that happen. But there...she had come face to face with her first major doubt that her plans wouldn't succeed when she'd seen the extent of hate and anger that Nandini had towards her. It had brought home the enormity and impossibility of the undertaking that she had set out to accomplish.

And her son was presenting an equally difficult challenge, Priyamvada mulled tiredly.

She had intended for Prithvi to come back sooner than usual from his mountain retreat but she'd assumed it would take months to bring him to Shamli, and that would have given her the time to prepare the stage for the next phase.

But he had come back so quickly that she'd not had time to do anything the way she'd wanted. Then she had thought he would stay in Shamli but he'd had left just as quickly as he'd arrived. And so she'd had to prepone the plans to bring Prithvi's friends to the country, driven by an idea that Grishma's presence would be useful. And if that didn't work as she wanted, she would bring Arundhati...but she had to give Grishma a fair chance to be useful.

She had intended for the Garewals to take Nandini along with them, and had also devised ways to convince Bhoothnath. But the old man had decided to send Nandini by himself. And her son had run into the Garewals and Nandini by chance when their car had broken down.

The coincidences that had happened so far were ridiculous beyond measure, Priyamvada thought irritably. She was losing control over situations repeatedly, and she was fed up of it. It almost felt as if some invisible energy was fully aware of her plans and was pulling the strings in a manner that would let her know at each step that she wasn't in charge, and all that was happening was because it was meant to happen that way, not because she had willed it.

And moreover, events were transpiring at a breakneck speed that she'd not been prepared for. Incidences that she had expected to unfurl over months had already happened in weeks...

But they would hit the brakes at some point, Priyamvada contemplated. The hate and rage that Nandini felt towards her was very deep-rooted. And as for her son, even if the other option was to live the rest of his life in abject misery, he would not choose to forgive Nandini...not easily at any rate...

But he also wasn't indifferent to the girl, or he wouldn't have left Shamli so quickly...or extended a dinner invitation to people for the first time in his life, Priyamvada thought wryly.

Prithvi believed she didn't know or understand him, but in truth, she was the only one who could understand the reasons for his behaviour at this point. She knew how it was to be pulled by something that seemed to be so wrong yet felt so right...

And he'd apparently been out for hours last evening.

It wasn't unusual for him to go on long drives, but she couldn't dismiss the possibility that he'd not been alone during the outing. Then again, this was pure conjecture on her part, because she'd not been able to get in touch with the driver since last evening. 

She needed to know at least the general direction of Prithvi's thoughts, so she could decide her next steps. She was confident he didn't suspect anything yet, but she had to be very careful. He was sharper than her, and he was bound to grasp her intentions eventually, but she wanted that day to be delayed for as long as possible.

Priyamvada thought for some moments, then picked up her phone from the table in front of her while glancing around briefly. Haimavati had left her alone and no other staff members were around.

She would ask Prithvi to travel to one of their main offices. He would naturally assume she wanted him out of Taravan to keep him away from Nandini. And depending on how he responded to the suggestion, she could assess how much work she needed to do...

The next scene in the story would play out as per her wishes, not as per the whims of destiny, Priyamvada thought doggedly. She was seizing the reins of the story back now, and they would remain in her hands for the rest of this drama.

************************

The phone's ringing woke Prithvi up from deep sleep. He drowsily reached for the phone from the bedside stand.

He frowned on realising it was his mother's call, and then got a jolt on seeing the time. It was half past six in the morning. She tended to call him at this time to give any instructions for the day, since they were both early risers. So the phone call wasn't surprising. What was astonishing was that he usually woke up an hour earlier than this.

Last night, by the time he'd reached his room, he'd felt too sleepy to even change out of his clothes. And he'd evidently slept soundly for over seven hours, which had to be a record for him, especially since his return to India. 

The phone had fallen silent now.

He would call up the queen after he had freshened up. They hadn't spoken for many days now. But his mother dearest must have decided it was time for a new move in the fanciful game she was playing with his life.

A short time later, clad in fresh clothes, Prithvi picked up the mobile and called up the number he loathed.

"You'd called, Queen Mother?" Prithvi said politely when Priyamvada answered the phone, and then listened patiently as she directed him to visit one of their offices for business reasons that would have sounded perfectly good and sensible to anyone else.

"Sure, I'll leave before noon," he said docilely even as a grimness filled his eyes.

She was clearly anticipating a negative reaction. But she didn't know that, for once, he was relieved at her interference. 

Yesterday had been too intense and confusing for him. He needed some space to decide how to resolve the problem presented by his pathetic emotions. And this was the perfect chance to do that.

Shocked, Priyamvada remained silent for some seconds. There was nothing in Prithvi's reaction that said he was angry or upset with her about the order. If this was how he truly felt, it would take her years to break down his ego-powered walls and make him confront the reality of his emotions.

"Any other offices you want me to visit?" Prithvi asked innocently.

Feeling weary all of a sudden, Priyamvada said, "No...just this office. You should be able to return in a day or two. Call me once you finish the work there."

"I will," Prithvi muttered as a slight frown appeared on his face.

There had been something different in his mother's voice when she'd spoken just now. A note of unusual tiredness. And he sensed it wasn't only related to her frustration about him not jumping through her hoops like a circus animal.

It wasn't a good sign.

He abruptly asked, "Are you unwell?"

The question surprised and then angered Priyamvada.

The only time her son showed her any concern was when she didn't want him to. And she was furious that he had understood she wasn't feeling great this morning. She was fine with using lies about her health as an excuse to manipulate people around her. But there were very few things she hated more than feeling genuinely ill, be it mentally or physically.

"I'm perfectly well, thank you," Priyamvada said coldly.

"You don't sound like it," Prithvi said bluntly. "Try not to go anywhere without Dai maa for the next few days."

"Prithvi, save your wise counsel for your fake parents," his mother snapped, and cut the call.

In a thoughtful mood, Prithvi set out to call up Haimavati to give her a few instructions. His mother's reaction had not annoyed him. It had only confirmed to him that a difficult time was around the corner again...

*************************

Enveloped in layers of warm clothing, Rajeshwari approached her brother who was sitting in the common room on the first floor, engrossed in reading a business newspaper.

Prithvi looked up from the newspaper and smiled at Rajeshwari. It was surprising for her to be awake so early in the day. And he could tell she wanted to ask him something that she believed he would not like...

"You're up very early today," he remarked. "Wait, are you here to give me some good news about Rajyavardhan," he asked hopefully.

Rajeshwari chuckled while sitting down on a comfortable armchair near him. "Sorry, no such luck."

Prithvi grinned, then easily asked, "Had tea?"

Rajeshwari nodded, then awkwardly said, "Prithvi...can I ask you something? You can tell me if you don't like what I'm about to say," she added hurriedly.

"Well...you know how hard it is for me to express my views about things but I will try to do it for your sake," he said solemnly.

She giggled, then became faintly sombre. "I wanted to ask you if I can...if I can go to Shamli and stay with Nandini for some days," she asked diffidently. "Not immediately, but maybe next week."

"Rai, you know you don't need to ask me or anyone if you want to go to Shamli – or anywhere else," Prithvi said intently. "And I've told you this before...Nandini and I are fine with each other. So, you should definitely go ahead with the plan."

Rajeshwari smiled at him in happy relief. "Okay, then I'll call Nandini up today and inform her."

"I think you should let it be a surprise for her and the others," Prithvi suggested seriously.

Rajeshwari pondered over it for a moment then nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, that sounds like a good idea..."

After talking with him for a while longer, Rajeshwari left to go to her own room, looking more cheerful than she had in days.

Prithvi sat in a thoughtful silence for some time, then he summoned an attendant who was passing by.

A short time later, Sumer Singh strolled into the room, smiling at him. "Good morning, Prithvi."

Prithvi smiled at him and gestured to him to take a seat.

"What time did you return last night?" Sumer Singh asked as he sat down.

"About eleven."

"And you didn't go out again, did you?" Sumer Singh asked keenly.

"No, I slept like a log till morning," Prithvi confessed.

"That's wonderful," Sumer Singh said with delight.

Prithvi smiled, then said, "Baba, the Queen Mother wants me to visit the office at Jainagar. I'll be leaving before noon, and will return in about two days."

Sumer Singh merely gave a nod in response. These sudden instructions were a regular affair with the queen. He was used to it now.

"And there was one other thing I needed to tell you," Prithvi muttered, self-consciously running his hand through his hair. It was not going to be easy to speak about this with Sumer Singh...but it had to be done.

"Yesterday, when we were heading back to the house, I met the Garewals," Prithvi said uncomfortably. "They were on their way to their house in Jateshwar and their car had broken down. I helped them out and we talked for a short while. I'd also invited them for dinner, but they couldn't make it because they had some other commitments."

Highly astonished and pleased, Sumer Singh stared at him. "You invited them for dinner? It must have been the first time you've ever invited anyone home like that."

"I suppose, yes," Prithvi said uncomfortably. "And...errr...Nandini was with them."

Goosebumps erupted on Sumer Singh's skin as the words hit him like a sledgehammer.

Prithvi had not mentioned that name once in the last five years. And by an unspoken agreement, he and the others too had refrained from doing the same. And now to hear that name from Prithvi...he could hardly believe his ears...

"But if Nandini was with them, why did you...I – I don't understand," Sumer Singh said in bewilderment. "When I'd spoken to you when you were in Shamli, you had seemed..."

"I was...but mainly because it was disturbing to be back there after so many years," Prithvi shrugged. "But I'd spoken to Nandini a few times when I was in Shamli, and it was fine... we've gotten over the past," he lied.

"But you've not been yourself since you've come from Shamli," Sumer Singh persisted, unable to understand what he was hearing.

Prithvi smiled ironically. "I've not been myself for five years now, Baba, and Nandini is not the main reason for that." It was one more lie, of course. His mother had done everything in her power to ruin his emotional state, but he could have handled anything and everything if....

Sumer Singh tried to decipher the expression on Prithvi's face, but he couldn't see anything worrisome. 

"You mean it? You're really fine with...her?" Sumer Singh said slowly.

"I am," Prithvi said briefly. Then he added, "Rai wants to go to Shamli to meet Nandini. I haven't told her that Nandini is in Jateshwar. I'm going to ask Nandini if she can come over for lunch and surprise Rai. I won't be around, of course. Once I'm back, we can invite the Garewals too for lunch or dinner."

"Oh, okay...okay," Sumer Singh said confusedly, trying hard to absorb everything Prithvi was saying. But it was very difficult and perplexing, and his mind kept circling back to one point.

"You can speak your mind freely, Baba," Prithvi said gently.

Sumer Singh looked at him searchingly, and then hesitantly said, "Prithvi, I haven't questioned you about what happened back then. And I'm not going to ask you anything about your recent visit either. But I need to ask you this - are you sure it is a good idea for Nandini to - to come in touch with – with our family again."

"You don't want to meet her?" Prithvi asked quietly.

Sumer Singh struggled to think of a way to express his fears. 

In spite of all of his reservations, he would have liked nothing better than to see that sweet child again. But he couldn't ever forget Prithvi's state when the relationship had needed. "I do wish to meet her, Prithvi," he said unhappily. "My hesitation is not about...myself."

"You think if Nandini is at the table while I eat a meal, I will once again lose my mind over her and history will repeat itself?" Prithvi asked sardonically.

Sumer Singh winced. Put in that stark black and white fashion, his fears sounded ridiculous. "It is not as simple as that. I don't want you to move in a direction that will lead to more...distress that you have already endured."

"Baba, nothing will happen between us again," Prithvi said calmly. "Because neither of us is interested in resuming where we left off. It is a closed chapter in our lives". At a detached, intellectual level, he meant every word he was saying. But a derisive laughter was resounding somewhere within him as he spoke. He ignored it mulishly.

Sumer Singh tried not to show that the words that were meant to reassure him had actually upset him terribly. He didn't want to ask anything more. He was afraid to even think of anything beyond what he had learnt already.

Prithvi hesitated for some seconds. He had not expressly asked Sumer Singh to stop speaking with Nandini, but deep down, he knew he had expected it. Wrecked by unendurable grief, rage and hate, he had expected the man who held a father's place in his life to cut off all connections with the girl who had broken his heart. And despite his affection for Nandini, Sumer Singh had done that out of profound love and loyalty towards him.

Not looking at the man sitting near him, Prithvi uncomfortably said, "Baba, I know you haven't spoken to Nandini since - that time. I know you did that for me...and I'm more grateful than I can tell you," he muttered. Then he gazed directly at a dumbstruck Sumer Singh, and quietly said, "But it's okay now. You don't need to do that anymore. When I was in Shamli, I understood some things in retrospect," he lied yet again. "We were too young back then. And with all the complications, I don't think a fairy-tale ending was in store anyway. So...there's no point wasting time thinking about it."

"I think I can safely say her affection for you is unchanged," Prithvi went on quietly. "And it will be rough on her if you don't behave with her as you've always done. And I know you're still very fond of her. So, when she comes here, I want you to be the same person she remembers...please."

Stunned, Sumer Singh stared at him. Then tears started to fill up his eyes slowly.

Turning pale, Prithvi rose to his feet, and moved closer to Sumer Singh. He placed a hand on the older man's shoulder.

He had not expected such an emotional response, and he abruptly felt overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude, love and respect. There were so many things he wanted to say to the man who had showered unlimited love on him since childhood. But he felt incapable of expressing any of it, and after a few moments, he walked away slowly.

**********************