He looked towards Catharine for support but found out that she was not yet a complete Indian. When asked what she thought he should be doing, she just said, �I don�t know. It is your problem and your country.�
�I want to give her atleast five hundred ruppees, but I don�t have the money right now. I asked for her address but she doesnot know it. So, I cannot send her the money.�
�What about now?� an excited Catharine asked.
�As you know, now I don�t have money and I would not want to borrow five hundred ruppees from you and give it to her.�
After a long discussion, wherein the credibility of the lady was questioned, the importance of the help agreed upon and the futility of worrying over such a small thing understood, it was decided that Catharine would lend him money, so that he could help the lady. But a few complications remained.
�One hundred ruppees is the limit. I do not want to borrow a lot of money from you, just so that I can help the lady. But then, for a lady who is conducting her daughter�s marriage, 100 rs is of little significance,� denounced Shankar. His tone suggested that he had decided against lendng a helping hand.
Before Catharine could upbraid him for what she thought was a stupid logic, the old lady jumped off her seat and said, �Son, give me anything you want to. I just need help, however small it maybe.�
Though, surprised they were, there was nothing to be said after this and a crisp hundred ruppee note changed hands twice � from Catharine to Shankar and then to the lady. Few words were spoken after that and an hour later the lady announced that her station had come.
She seemed happy � overtly happy. In ten minutes the train stopped and with a smile that could have meant a hundred things, the old lady bade farewell. The boy followed her piously.
After the train started again, Shankar asked Catharine, �Do you think she was telling the truth?�
