“Thanks, You are so kind, “She smiled ,”I see you too are going to Patna.” “I had come to visit my son for a month but stayed back longer . ...ow it is time I went back.”“I am also retired from government service and had come to visit my daughter in Mumbai,” I said. “ Life is such a bore when the nest is empty and one is retired.” I said.“Well after I lost my husband even before he died I have been lonely in this world. The children are busy with their lives. I cannot blame them, “She said.There. My friends told me I needed to be on the train to Kyoto early because the pilgrims would be packing it for that first day. Fortunately the journey started from the station three miles from the home of my friends. I arrived at the station in the dark and found about a dozen people waiting. I went into the last car and took a seat facing forward. People were s**ttered around in other seats. At the first stop, quite a few people came aboard. Some had to stand now, but most were seated. . I shouldn't have entered your room like that. I was in a daze and didn't realize you were taking a shower, and um... You know... relieving yourself." That's okay. I was kind of in a daze myself," I chuckled. Hoping that would break the tension I felt now between us."Missing your girlfriend back home?" Bethany questioned."Um... No, I don't have a girlfriend. Mom was kind of strict about me dating. She thought it would have interfered with my schoolwork." Oh, that's too bad." I was actually. .. it was just possible to glimpse a few indistinct figures on the sand quite a ways in the distance.I guess if I'm going to take a swim, this is as good a place as any. Turning towards the ocean, I dropped my towel to the sand, and removed my shirt, shorts, and sandals. It felt good, standing here naked in the dark, feeling the soft wind caressing my body. I took three steps, and felt the water lapping at my toes, the froth from the waves tickling my feet. I walked slowly into the surf,.