KASHMIR (Contd.) 345
He was an elderly man, tall and of dark complexion. He
attempted to rise from the chair when Ramdas entered the
room, but his complaint prevented him from doing so. He
pointed to a chair in front of him and Ramdas sat down.
A few -words explained to him the reason of Ramdas' visit.
He gave a short account of his disease and then called for
some refreshments for Ramclas from which he drank a cup
of milk. He was then on mere milk diet. Durgadas was
evidently a busy man. He was engaged with a visitor when
Ramdas went to him and many others were waiting out-
side for their turns. Now Ramdas stood up to depart, hut
Durgadas would not have it so.
"You have been so long in Srinagar," he said, "and
I had no opportunity to have you with me. I will not
allow you to go until you have spent some days at ours as
well."
His repeated appeals induced Ramdas to remain. The
pandit escorts who were waiting outside were told of the
decision, and they took leave and returned to their homes.
Ramdas had stipulated two conditions for his stay: one
was that he would during the time live only on milk diet
and that the f ollowing day he should be permitted to go
back to the,city as he had shortly to leave for Amarnath
on pilgrimage. Durgadas would not agree to the latter
condition.
Ramdas was given a separate spacious room on the
upper floor of his palatial residence and was provided with
every convenience. The mothers of the house were ex-
tremely kind in their attentions. Here Ramdas had the
constant society erf Durgadas' two little sons, Kabir and
Uddhav. Ramdas enjoyed their playful society and
lisping talks, On account of his disability, Durgadas could
not come up to the rooin in which Ramdas lived. Next-
day, in the afternoon, Ramdas went down and directly
going to his office-room announced his desire to leuve for
the city. Expostulation was useless. The young man of
44