i knew this would change everything but as i stood there transfixed i felt helpless-
                 my father a cold practical man-with a habit of weighing every situation-coming up the hard way looked at me with disbelief his first born the apple of his eye-for once has taken a stand -at the age of 23 still studying medicine has proclaimed his love for his cousin-and crushingly for a family hoping for a sizeable dowry so that
the family could for once breathe easy -has declared that come what may would marry the girl of his dreams.
            my pained fathers words had a touch of finality-marry young and repent in haste-if it is your decision i respect it-but i cannot support you-i have two other children-i have a teachers salary-it is your choice.
                      robert frost talked about the the two roads-what road do i chose-the easy road-doctors are highly in demand a rich girl, an assured life-foreign training-can i betray my heart the small shy lovely girl i have given my heart to -to be reciprocated with equal feelings.
                            i felt helpless-warring feelings- my head is calculative-my heart sings with joy at the thought of kanchana-she is the muse of my young life. i walk the streets of the university town i am studying in -watch the cool manners and easy disdain for money of my rich contemporaries-think about the five kilometer walk to the medical college everyday-think about the exhausting sessions in the library and the lonely 5 km walk at 1 am
think about the ten ruppees in the pocket at any given time-look with  with envy at my rich contemporaries-and 
imagine myself in their shoes-and remember-james bonds immortal comment-all cats are grey in the dark.
         this is supposed to be a short story -not a dissertation on the line of the dark russian writers regarding head and heart or morality.
            kanchana the other protagonist of this short tale-a 19 year old creature of light and smiles-a sheltered upbringing who has given her heart to a slightly elder cousin -a man with a way with words, a sportsman, a union president -and a small feeling that she would be jilted-
            i the main protagonist -sit back think of the reply to given to my father-very easy -all cats are grey in the dark
and who does not want money or a easy life-seema from washington or leela from london would do.
                it is very easy to lose your heart and repent throughout your life-i am now a professor of surgery-i have been a lions governor-i have hadtraining in usa  and have travelled and worked in uk -have a house worth one crore-all cats are grey in the dark-yet it is kanchana who brings my morning coffee-robert frost please tell me whether i have taken the wrong turning-i do not think so!