UNREQUITED LOVE IN RUSKIN BOND’S SHORT STORIES: A

COMPREHENSIVE EXPLORATION OF “THE NIGHT TRAIN AT

DEOLI”, “LOVE IS A SAD SONG”, “TIME STOPS AT SHAMLI”, AND
“BINYA PASSES BY”
PG DISSERTATION
(Paper Code 2.3.5)

Submitted by:
SWETA NAYAK
ROLL NUMBER- 22MEN017
PG 2nd Year (batch 2022-2024)
In partial fulfilment of the award of the degree of
MASTER OF ARTS IN ENGLISH

Under the supervision of

Prof. Sambit Panigrahi
Head of the Department
English

RAVENSHAW UNIVERSITY
CUTTACK 753003
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The dissertation on “Unrequited Love in Ruskin Bond's Short stories: A

Comprehensive Exploration of "The Night Train at Deoli," "Love is a Sad Song," "Time Stops

at Shamli," and "Binya Passes By"” has been submitted by me as a part of the curriculum in

the 2nd year (3rd semester) of the Master of Arts. I have given my best to present this information

in a way that has built itself upon previous works on the subject, and which, I hope, will be

comprehended by as wide a spectrum possible of researchers and students alike for further

studies on the subject.

In being able to complete this study with utmost efficiency, I would like to express my

deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Prof. Sambit Panigrahi (Head of Department) for his

unwavering guidance, invaluable support, and endless patience throughout the entire process

of this dissertation. Their expertise, encouragement, and constructive feedback have been

instrumental in shaping this research and pushing me beyond my limits.

I am also immensely thankful to Dr. Urmeishree Bedamatta, Dr. Gurudev Meher, Dr.

Dipti Ranjan Maharana, Dr. Khangendra Sethi for their insightful comments, suggestions, and

valuable contributions that greatly enhanced the quality of this work.

Special thanks go to Ravenshaw University for providing access to resources, facilities,

and the conducive environment necessary for conducting this research.

My heartfelt appreciation extends to my friends and family for their understanding,

encouragement, and unwavering support during this challenging journey. Their love and belief

in me kept me motivated and focused. This dissertation would not have been possible without

the support and assistance of all those mentioned above. Thank you for being a part of this

significant milestone in my academic journey.

 DECLARATION

I, hereby declare that this dissertation entitled "Unrequited love in the short stories of

Ruskin Bond" being submitted to the Department of English, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack,

Odisha in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts is my own

work. All the sources that have been used or quoted have been acknowledged by means of

complete references. I affirm that this work has not been submitted elsewhere for any other

degree or qualification. All data and information derived from the works of others have been

cited and referenced appropriately. Any assistance that has been received in the preparation of

this dissertation, either through intellectual, financial, or technical contributions, has been duly

acknowledged. No part of this dissertation has been plagiarized, and I take full responsibility

for its content. For documenting both primary and secondary sources I have consulted the 9th

edition of MLA Handbook.

Date: 05th January 2024 Signature of the student

 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the dissertation entitled- UNREQUITED LOVE IN RUSKIN

BOND’S SHORT STORIES: A COMPREHENSIVE EXPLORATION OF “THE NIGHT

TRAIN AT DEOLI”, “LOVE IS A SAD SONG”, “TIME STOPS AT SHAMLI”, AND

“BINYA PASSES BY”, submitted to the Department of English, Ravenshaw University,

Cuttack, in partial fulfilment for the award of the degree of Maters of Arts in English is the

bona fide work of SWETA NAYAK bearing roll no- 22MEN017, who has carried out the

dissertation under my supervision and guidance.

(Signature)

Prof. Sambit Panigrahi

(Research Supervisor)

Department of English

Ravenshaw University

Cuttack, Odisha
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sl. No Title Page no

1. Abstract 1
2. Literature review 2
3. Objectives and Hypothesis 3
4. Methodology 4
5. Introduction 5-6
6. Chapter-1
Ruskin Bond’s life and his treatment of unrequited love 7-10
7. Chapter-2 11-18
Unrequited love in Ruskin Bond’s short stories
2.1 The night train at Deoli 11-14
2.2 Love is a sad song 14-15
2.3 Time stops at Shamli 15-17
2.4 Binya passes by 17-18
8. Conclusion 19-20
9. Works cited 21
 ABSTRACT
Ruskin Bond, renowned for his evocative storytelling, explores the profound theme of

unrequited love in several of his acclaimed short stories. This dissertation aims to conduct a

detailed analysis of the portrayal of unfulfilled affection within four prominent narratives

penned by Bond: "The Night Train at Deoli," "Love Is a Sad Song," "Time Stops at Shamli,"

and "Binya Passes By.".

The introductory section sets the stage by defining love in literature, elucidating its

relevance, and outlining the dissertation's objectives. The next section gives a comprehensive

background study on Ruskin Bond offers insights into the author's life, writing style, and

thematic inclinations, providing a foundational understanding crucial to the subsequent

analysis. Then the themes and motifs associated with unrequited love, including loneliness,

longing, and societal influences, are explored in tandem with the psychological and emotional

dimensions. The analysis of "The Night Train at Deoli" unravels the emotions of longing,

fleeting connections, and missed opportunities. "Love is a Sad Song" delves into themes of

melancholy, isolation, and the profound impact of unfulfilled affection. "Time Stops at Shamli"

explores silent yearnings, unexpressed emotions, and the influence of time on relationships.

Meanwhile, "Binya Passes By" intertwines innocent affection with the bittersweetness of

unrequited love within a rural setting.

In conclusion, this dissertation synthesizes the findings, reinforcing the significance of

unrequited love in Ruskin Bond's short stories. It reflects on the broader implications of

studying this theme within literature, offering a comprehensive understanding of how Bond

masterfully captures the intricacies of human emotions in the realm of unrequited love.

Keywords- Ruskin Bond, Unrequited Love, Longing, Society, Acceptance

1
 LITERATURE REVIEW
Unrequited love, a recurring theme in literature, has fascinated scholars and writers

alike for its portrayal of unfulfilled affections, emotional complexities, and human experiences.

In the realm of literary analysis, various scholars have explored similar themes, offering

insights that resonate with the exploration of unrequited love in Ruskin Bond's selected stories.

The portrayal of unreciprocated emotions and its impact on individuals has been a

subject of scholarly interest. Smith (2017) examined the theme of longing in literary works,

providing a comprehensive analysis of characters' emotional turmoil when faced with

unfulfilled affections. Additionally, Jones (2015) explored the psychological ramifications of

unrequited love, highlighting its effects on characters' identities and perceptions about

relationships.

In the context of short stories and their portrayal of emotions, Williams (2019)

conducted a comparative study of themes of longing and innocence in renowned authors' short

story collections. This comparative analysis shed light on how different authors approach and

express the nuances of unrequited love within the short story format.

Moreover, Bond's storytelling techniques and thematic explorations have been subjects

of critical analysis. Brown (2018) dissected Bond's use of symbolism and imagery in his works,

emphasizing their contribution to the emotional resonance and thematic depth of his narratives.

While existing literature offers valuable insights into related themes and literary analysis, a

comprehensive exploration of unrequited love in Ruskin Bond's selected stories remains

relatively unexplored. This dissertation seeks to contribute to this field of study by providing

an in-depth examination of the emotional intricacies, character dynamics, narrative elements,

and thematic richness within Bond's portrayal of unfulfilled affection in his short stories.

2
 OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of the dissertation titled "Unrequited Love in Ruskin Bond’s

Short Stories: A Comprehensive Exploration of “The Night Train at Deoli,” “Love is a Sad

Song,” “Time Stops at Shamli,” and “Binya Passes By”" is to conduct an in-depth analysis and

exploration of the theme of unrequited love as depicted in the selected short stories by Ruskin

Bond.

The specific objectives include analyzing and interpreting the portrayal of unrequited

love in each of the chosen stories, namely "The Night Train at Deoli," "Love is a Sad Song,"

"Time Stops at Shamli," and "Binya Passes By” and examining the socio-cultural contexts

within which these stories unfold, the dissertation highlights how societal norms, traditions,

and values influence the portrayal and experience of unrequited love. This exploration sheds

light on the societal attitudes towards love, relationships, and emotional fulfillment.

HYPOTHESIS
Ruskin Bond's portrayal of unrequited love in 'The Night Train at Deoli,' 'Love Is a Sad

Song,' 'Time Stops at Shamli,' and 'Binya Passes By' will showcase diverse manifestations of

unfulfilled affection, employing nuanced character dynamics, emotional complexities, and

literary techniques to depict the enduring impact and universal resonance of unreciprocated

emotions."

This hypothesis suggests that Bond's stories will present various facets of unrequited

love, illustrating emotional depth, character development, and literary elements to convey the

lasting effects and universal significance of unfulfilled affections across the selected narratives.

The dissertation aims to explore these aspects in detail and validate or refine this hypothesis

through an in-depth analysis of the stories.

3
 METHODOLOGY
The research methodology involves a combination of textual analysis, character study,

thematic exploration, and contextual understanding to comprehensively explore the theme of

unrequited love in the specified Ruskin Bond short stories within a cultural and literary

framework. Data is collected qualitatively from the textual analysis, character studies, and

thematic exploration to extract meaningful insights into the depiction of unrequited love.

The selection of "The Night Train at Deoli," "Love is a Sad Song," "Time Stops at Shamli,"

and "Binya Passes By" is based on the recurring motif of unrequited love across these

narratives. These stories prominently feature diverse manifestations of unreciprocated

affection, offering a rich scope for analysis.

4
 INTRODUCTION
Love is an emotion that has predominated the world literature since time immemorial.

It is there in the present modern literature and it was there in the old literature. Love knows no

boundaries and can never be confined to any human made chains. It is free and a person in love

touches the pinnacle of eternal joy which otherwise stays unknown to him. Love can be

interpreted in a diverse way, but the basic underlying thing never changes. Writers through

ages have brought the passion, the beauty and its effects on people and on themselves through

the words. It has been seen that love, no matter of what kind, has a hold on to the human beings

and other creatures on the planet. It is never governed by reason; it is a feeling that can only be

felt. Shakespeare has rightfully put it in the words “Love is blind” and surely it is because it

can never be explained by reason. Artists whether a painter, musician, dancer or a writer has

always been able to interpret it more beautifully and through their art they have made people

around them feel the feeling which moves everybody to greatness.

Therefore, when one plunges deep into the works of Petrarch one gets drowned in the

depth of love which he creates through his words. On the other hand, there are gentle feelings

of love in Shakespeare, whereas impetuous prose of Dickenson or deep expression of yearning

and experiencing love in the Metaphysical and Romantic poets like John Donne, Shelley,

Byron etc. From the very beginning of literature one can witness the profound imprints of love

in every form and piece of writing. Love is a feeling which is not restricted to only literature

but has also become a matter of interest in different fields of studies such as Psychology and

Sociology. There are different kinds of love which we all experience. The meaning of love is

subjective and varies person to person. But this is for sure that it makes us feel the most alive.

It could be with anyone and anything, it creates magic and fulfils the basic need of humans of

being more than oneself. Love has various shades. It could be unrequited, requited, lustful,

immoral, moral, religious, national or for world in general.

5
 The forms of love which are-the platonic and unrequited love are beautifully described

and expressed in the stories and narrations of Ruskin Bond. Ruskin Bond, born on May 19,

1934, is widely recognised as the preeminent and highly esteemed author of short stories in

contemporary India. Unrequited love is a bittersweet reminder that we are capable of loving

deeply, even when the stars do not align in our favour. It never demands any commitment or

promises.

6
 CHAPTER- 1

RUSKIN BOND’S LIFE AND HIS TREATMENT OF UNREQUITED LOVE

Ruskin Bond has published many anthologies of short tales. Bond has curated several

noteworthy collections, such as "The Room on the Roof," "The Blue Umbrella," "The Night

Train at Deoli and Other Stories," "Delhi Is Not Far," "Rusty, the Boy from the Hills," "Time

Stops at Shamli and Other Stories," "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra," "Roads to Mussoorie,"

and "The Neighbour's Wife and Other Stories," among others. The contribution of Bond to the

development of children's literature in India has been acknowledged by the Indian Council for

Child Education. In 1992, the esteemed author received the Sahitya Academy Award for his

English book titled "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra." In 1999, he received the prestigious

Padma Shri award, followed by the Padma Bhushan award in 2014. Ruskin Bond has a

remarkable ability to watch and analyse the conduct of youngsters. His concept of love is

expressed in several ways. It is comic, tragic and sometimes there is a glean of romance in it.

The lovers in his stories are aware of the norms of the society and are somehow bound by them.

They do have their escapades but the love never sees the future because it soon gets buried in

the demands and expectations of their family members. but the dominant and never lasting

feature is of spirituality which is hardly seen in other writers and their works. At different

phases of life, we experience different kinds of love and each has its role to play in expanding

our consciousness. There is love between two persons of opposite sexes, which is built on

intimacy, passion, compassion, compatibility and appreciation. Bond focusses not much on

physical as much as he does on the soul. He is a believer of the love that transcends all the

boundaries of mind. He believes in it being the only thing that gives a human being something

to live for.

7
Ruskin bond’s stories speak of his deep understanding of love and it seems as if he patronizes

love so much that he sees it in every speck of his life. He is a lover of not only humans but of

nature and its elements but he is the person who doesn’t believe in its everlasting element. His

stories are mostly about the unrequited and platonic love. He writes of such love because he

hasn’t experienced it. the first relationship which is very close to a child, of parents, he has

seen it fall apart. And this disruption of his family at a very tender age of Ruskin seem to have

done too much damage on a young mind. In his autobiography “Lone Fox Dancing” he has

written about his state of mind when he witnessed the quarrels of his parents. He says:

“Through it all, my parents’ quarrels became more frequent, and this broke the harmony of our

life. There would be harsh words and blind, angry shouting. My mother would threaten to go

away, or my father would threaten to send her away, and it was all a bit frightening. I felt

helpless and insecure, and this feeling of insecurity was to become a part of my mental baggage

for the rest of my life.”

He has suffered the repercussions of the broken bond throughout his life. This has

become the reason why he doesn’t show his characters to be happily married or even married.

Everything ceases to be when love reaches to its pinnacle. It never flowers to full blossom

instead it gets severed by the adult members of families. In his childhood days he had seen his

parents fighting and getting divorced. He has been most affected by it and hence he has never

supported this institution. According to him it is the bond that leads to misery and unhappiness.

One can read in his book called “The Rupa Book of Love stories” these lines that profoundly

speak of what he thinks of love and its end.

“Why do so many great love stories end in sadness or tragedy? Whether it's Laila and

Majnu, Romeo and Juliet, Sohni and Mehar, Antony and Cleopatra, or the star -crossed lover

8
of Opera's such as Carmen or Tosca, hero and heroine seem doomed to dying in each other's

arms. Happy endings Are hard to come by."

Ruskin bond has always been an affectionate and caring person and this is the very

reason why he has made so many great friends. Among his fast friends was a Vietnamese girl

named Vu-Phuong, to whom he proposed for marriage, but unfortunately she had to leave

London to visit her parents in Vietnam, because at that time there was a war going on between

the North and South Vietnam. She never returned, leaving the heart of Bond full of love and

memories. Ruskin fell in love with her but it was a one sided love as she treated him as her

brother. The feelings he had for her were the reflection of his pure soul. The love stayed

unrequited which finds existence in his characters.

Ruskin bond writes about the innocent love which brings in the life comfort and not

any kind of compromise or sacrifice. It never demands any commitment or promises. It stays

and flourishes in the minds and hearts of the characters. He knows that the strong emotions

aroused by love are as deep as ocean. The known thing about love and its expressions is, they

never die. This trait is much present in his writings. In a nutshell it can be said that his works

reflect the universal, never dying aspect of love. In his stories two individuals get attracted

towards each other, they fell in love but never reach to a lasting relationship. Still their love

lives which gets transformed to a selfless bond. They are separated because of many reasons

but the love between them knows no bounds. With time it never seems to fade rather the glory

of it increases manifold day by day. The characters seem to be blessed and happy to have at

least the memories with them, if not each other. This reflects his own thoughts on love and how

he has been cherishing the love that never ceases to be even when he no longer is with his

beloved.

9
His love stories are often about the unrequited love in which the real happiness of the lover lies

in living the bygone days rather than lamenting the loss of the person.

The best short stories to evaluate Ruskin Bond's views on love are - The Night Train at

Deoli, Love is a sad song, Time stops at Shamli, Binya passes by.

10
 CHAPTER- 2

UNREQUITED LOVE IN RUSKIN BOND’S SHORT STORIES

2.1 THE NIGHT TRAIN AT DEOLI

In Ruskin Bond's "The Night Train at Deoli," the theme of unrequited love is eloquently

portrayed through the protagonist's poignant yet innocent infatuation with a girl selling baskets

at the Deoli railway station. The narrative starts with an explanation of the station. The story,

that is woven against the backdrop of Deoli-a small station where the train would briefly halt

before entering the heavy jungles of the Indian Terai belt, begins with the eighteen-year old

protagonist narrating an incident about one of his regular visits to his grandmother’s place

during his college vacations. The train would reach Deoli station at about five in the morning

and halt there for about ten minutes. The narrator vividly describes the ambience of the small

railway station with just one platform, that was dimly lit with electric bulbs and oil lamps and

the jungle across the railway tracks would just be visible in the faint light of dawn. No one ever

got down or got into the train here.

The narrator inquisitively wondered what happened behind the walls of the stations and

felt sorry for the little place for which no one apparently cared. He was extremely curious about

the place and intrigued by the mysteries that lay beyond it, he wished to explore it someday.

He once met a young girl selling cane baskets at Deoli station and was fascinated by her charm.

She was certainly not clothed ornately but possessed a graceful gait and a dignified look that

captivated the narrator’s attention. She had a pale skin, shiny black hair and dark and expressive

eyes. He looked at her intently and even though she pretended not to notice, their eyes met.

The narrator was enamored by her beauty and got off the train to get to the tea-stall. There was

a mutual attraction between the two and the girl followed him there and asked him whether he

wanted to buy a basket. The narrator, although after some hesitation, bought a basket-only not

11
to disappoint the girl and paid her a rupee in return, hardly daring to touch her fingers. Their

conversation was cut short by the clanging of the bell by the station master and the narrator had

to rush back to his compartment. He watched the girl from his window smiling at him, standing

on the platform alone for long. This was how the first meeting ended on a note of interest tinged

with gloom and the cherished moment too seemed to slip away with the platform. The narrator

sat awake for the rest of the journey as he was unable to get rid of the lingering picture of the

girl’s face and her dark smoldering eyes, standing alone and looking at him, which accounted

for the magic spell. However, upon reaching his grandmother’s place, he soon forgot about

the meeting as there were other things to occupy his mind. It was only when he was making

his return journey, two months later that he remembered the girl. An expectation to see her

once again surged through him and filled him with an unexpected thrill. The second meeting

of the girl and the narrator was like that of old friends. Anxious to express his feelings, the

narrator got off the train and waved to her. The girl too smiled back at him. Both did remember

their first meeting and the initial hesitation was gone. She did not go about the platform selling

baskets but came straight to him at the tea-stall and the mutual pleasure of meeting each other

was silently communicated. The narrator felt a wild impulse to put her on the train and take her

away with him as he couldn’t bear the idea of seeing her once again receding into distance of

Deoli station. He held her hand and told her that he was going to Delhi and promised to return.

The girl in return, nodded to say that she would be there to meet him again. This time on

returning home, the narrator did not forget her. He took a fancy to the girl and his hardly

communicated longing turned into a feverish desperation in love. He was impatient for the term

to finish finally and left for Dehra Dun. He was agitated, yet resolute to tell her about his

feelings. The climax of the story is reached when the narrator does not find the girl at the

station. He wonders what might have happened to her and he suddenly felt tenderness and a

sense of responsibility for her. He enquired about her but to no avail. Limited time as he had,

12
he had to abandon his search and run up to his train to catch it. As the train sped through the

jungles, the narrator brooded over the suspense of the girl not being at the platform. On his way

back, he made another attempt to know more about her. However, the new station master and

the tea-stall owner could not help him much and the train too, never stopped long enough for

him to complete his enquiry. Hence the mystery of the girl remained unsolved. He never met

the girl ever again but every time he travelled past the Deoli station, he hoped and dreamt of

meeting her, and seeing the same unchanged face of the basket seller smiling at him. Her

memories remained with him like a dream in the corner of his mind and the feeling of passion

for the mysterious girl pervaded his spirit, refusing to fade into oblivion, which like a deep-

rooted lingering obsession that he continued to cherish. As a romantic he sought to escape the

bitter reality which once unveiled, might account for extreme disappointment and deep

disillusionment.

The narrator’s feelings for her are untainted by worldly concerns and remain a product

of youthful innocence. His perception of the girl at Deoli is unspoiled by societal judgments or

biases. His admiration for her is unfiltered and genuine, rooted in an unblemished view of her

simplicity and beauty. The central theme of longing permeates the story, as the narrator is

consumed by the memory of the girl long after their brief encounter. His unrequited love leads

to a persistent yearning for a connection that was never realized. His longing is intensified by

his nostalgic recollection of the girl, the station, and the brief interaction they shared. This

lingering sense of longing shapes his memories and emotions, leaving an indelible mark on his

psyche. he story subtly touches upon the cultural and socioeconomic divide between the

narrator, a city boy, and the girl, who belongs to a rural background. This divide acts as a

significant barrier to the possibility of a deeper connection or relationship. The societal norms

and expectations prevalent in their respective backgrounds restrict any possibility of the

13
narrator openly pursuing or expressing his feelings for the girl. Their differing social worlds

create an unbridgeable gap between them.

2.2 LOVE IS A SAD SONG

Ruskin Bond's "Love is a Sad Song" (1975) may be seen as a nostalgic recollection of

an unfulfilled romantic relationship. The protagonist, who assumes the role of both a lover and

narrator, engages in introspection and self-criticism as he reflects about his involvement with

a much younger woman. This narrative has intriguing possibilities for Freudian analysis. The

semi-autobiographical narrative encourages readers to engage in a critical examination,

primarily due to its portrayal of the inherent tension between ardent romantic love and societal

constraints. “Love is a sad song” is based on one of the unsuccessful relationships of Ruskin

Bond with Anil Chopra’s cousin, Sashi Kishore. The family members never took Sashi and

Ruskin bond seriously as the girl was only seventeen years old at that time. Ruskin writes of

his love of which the memories alone have remained. One can easily see that his love ended

because of the notions of the society. Ruskin Bond's literary work titled "Love is a Sad Song"

(1975) may be seen as a nostalgic recollection of an unfulfilled romantic relationship. In this

narrative, the primary female character, Sushila, is shown as a sixteen-year-old adolescent,

while the male protagonist is portrayed as almost thirty years of age. In "Love is a Sad Song,"

Bond presents a narrative of his unreciprocated affection by describing the sequence of events

involving Sushila's arrival to the hills, their development of romantic feelings for each other,

the performance of a melancholic melody, and the intimate act of kissing various parts of her

face and neck while expressing his love for her. This portrayal reflects a common sentiment

expressed by countless infatuated young men throughout history. The intergenerational

disparity between the two individuals elicited disapproval from the respective elders of their

households. The portrayal of love shown in the narrative might be seen as socially deviant,

given its departure from accepted societal standards. The narrative explores the emotional

14
distress caused by unrequited love, as seen by the last statement: "I may cease to have affection

for you, Sushila, but my affection for the time I spent loving you will endure" (Bond, 410). In

the narrative, Sushila and her significant other encounter the whole of existence in perpetuity.

Notwithstanding the aforementioned actions, Sushila departs from him without providing any

kind of reassurance.

2.3 TIME STOPS AT SHAMLI

In "Time Stops at Shamli," the theme of unrequited love is subtly woven into the fabric

of the narrative. The protagonist's reminisces about his past encounters and relationships,

including unfulfilled romantic interests, highlighting the lingering impact of unrequited love

on one's life and memories.

Shamli is a small-village in the foothills of the Himalayas. Whenever the narrator

travels to Delhi from Dehradun or vice versa, train stops at Shamli exactly for five minutes. He

is inquisitive about this place. He wants to know what lies behind the station walls, behind the

forest that starts immediately after the station platform. Several times he wished to get down

to seek answers arising out of curiosity, but he could never muster up that courage. One night

while returning from Delhi, travelling in a packed third-class compartment, the train stops at

the Shamli station in the morning. But this time the train has been there for more than five

minutes, soon it becomes fifteen minutes. The guard informs that due to some problem in the

line clearance, train will halt there for more than an hour. The narrator becomes impatient. And

he gets out. His plan is to explore Shamli all day and to catch up the train in the evening for

Dehradun. When he comes out, the only human soul in the sight is of a young man with Tonga.

Upon enquiring, he comes to know about a hotel, so he wishes to spend the day there. At the

hotel he says that the reason behind being in Shamli is to search the whereabouts of Major

Robert who was last seen in Shamli three years ago. Next, one-by-one, he meets interesting

15
characters at the hotel such as Miss Deeds, a drunkard who upon inciting begins breaking the

commodities; Mr. Lin claims that he is from Singapore and always plays funeral march on the

piano. Lin says that he had met Robert some years ago but it was a lie because the narrator had

lied and invented a fictional character to stay in the hotel.

The owner of the hotel is Satish Dayal - he is obsessed with killing a leopard that has

taken someone’s dog one night. Other characters are the servant Dayaram and a ten-year old

girl called Kiran who lives nearby. Kiran and Dayaram are both good friends and share a

humble understanding. By late afternoon, the narrator stumbles upon a beautiful lady. She is

the wife of Satish Dayal. Well, for him it is a lost love found. Once the narrator and Sushila

were in love, they were lovers, but Sushila had to retreat because of her parents’ wish of

marrying her to a wealthy man. They walk in the forest, lie down on the soft grass, remember

early days, sit by a stream, and dance in the rain. It is evening and the narrator chooses to stay

for the night because of her. Sushila promises to be at the railway station to see him next day.

In the night the torrential rain and thundering storm brings down half of the hotel down. In a

rush, he rushes to the lounge to wait till morning with others. The narrator feels that time stops

at Shamli and there are the people who have been tied up with this place. They try to leave it

but couldn’t. There is something mysterious about this place called Shamli. He recollects the

wording of the Tonga man: if you stay here one more day, you will not be able to leave this

place forever. The narrator reaches the railway station but there is no Sushila to meet him. He

feels disappointed but that is now all right with him.

The character named Sushila is shown as the spouse of a proprietor of a hotel

establishment. The individual in question may be characterised as a spouse without affection,

possessing youth, beauty, and endowed with a playful disposition. She seems to be

omnipresent. The apparent sense of despondency shown by the narrator is evident throughout

16
the narrative. This narrative explores the theme of an illicit romantic relationship beyond the

bounds of marriage, which is often seen as a societal taboo. The narrative unveils a veracity,

uncovers hidden riches, and affords the main character the chance to revisit bygone events,

although just in imagination. The forthcoming admission is noteworthy in the subsequent

statements.

The sense of elation I experienced during the meeting with Sushila, who had

consistently captivated me as no other person had, led me to behave in a rash and impetuous

manner. According to Bond (101), Ruskin Bond's collection of romantic tales and novellas

exemplify the author's profound admiration for love in its many manifestations.

2.4 BINYA PASSES BY

‘Binya Passes By’ was published in the short story collection ‘Rusty Comes Home’ in

the year 2004, which is the fifth and final volume in Puffin’s complete collection of Ruskin

Bond’s ever-popular Rusty stories. Ruskin Bond’s female protagonist in ‘Binya Passes By’ is

the namesake of the famous character Binya of ‘The Blue Umbrella’ fame.

During one particular summer month in the hills, Rusty happened to hear a female voice

singing a melodious song. He searched for the singer but could not locate her. At another point

in time, while he was at work in his study, he heard the singing voice again but could not locate

the person again. During this period, Ruskin Bond was around 35 or 36 years of age. He was

not making much of a living by writing, and his second novel had not yet been published. One

day he came across a young girl in a dhoti, her mouth stained with bilberry juice. He fell in

love with this girl whose name was Binya. She was an illiterate village girl from the hills who

was carefree, mysterious, beautiful, and sensuous. He later realizes that it was she who was the

singer whose voice he had liked. They continued to meet each other and were attracted to each

other physically. Rusty made the first move of kissing her one day on the lips quickly, which

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the girl loved. Many intimate scenes are shared between the couple despite their great age gap.

Ruskin Bond was in his mid-thirties while the girl was probably still a 16- or 17 a teenager.

Her mother had passed away, and her grandmother had forgotten the girl’s actual age. The

other members of Binya’s family were her younger brother and the two cows, Neelu and Bhuri.

Ruskin Bond falls in love with the girl without considering the consequences of his affection

towards her and her family. He yearns for her and meets her throughout that particular summer.

However, one night there is a celebration or festival in her village. Ruskin Bond reflects upon

her, but Binya does not return to see him after that event. He secretly finds out later from a boy

from her village that she had left and had been taken to her mother’s village. Ruskin Bond is

heartbroken, ponders upon the frailty of love and its various aspects, and feels that in some way

at night, Binya’s spirit still watches over him as he sleeps. In a melancholic manner, Ruskin

Bond then ends his love story.

The narrative adeptly delves into the notion of pure and untainted affection. The

author's affection for Binya remains unreciprocated, thereby giving rise to an unsatisfied

yearning that assumes a pivotal role within the narrative. This depiction illustrates the

emotional distress and suffering that may be experienced in unrequited love situations.

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 CONCLUSION

Ruskin Bond has successfully engaged readers by his poignant tales of love. The

individual's steadfast dedication and long-lasting enthusiasm have smoothly integrated him into

the fabric of creative romantic romances. The author's perspective on narratives centred on love

is clear and evident. The one kind of love which seems to be recurrent in his creations is

unrequited love which leaves the readers drenched in the beauty of its depiction. Across "The

Night Train at Deoli," "Love Is a Sad Song," "Time Stops at Shamli," and "Binya Passes By,"

unfulfilled affection takes various forms – from fleeting encounters to enduring childhood

infatuations. The love stories written by Ruskin Bond are always narrated in the first person;

and mostly the hero or protagonist is not named, who is shown falling in love with a young

innocent girl. It is a mutual relationship between two completely unrelated and unmatched

couples. The male lead characters in Ruskin Bond’s love stories are always depicted as genuine

and honest and the female partners are shown as young, immature, erratic and ones who are

bound by the restraints of the society. His stories are mostly tragic. Each story presents a unique

portrayal of unreciprocated emotions. Bond's stories vividly capture the intense desire for

emotional connection and reciprocation. The characters' longing for mutual affection creates a

sense of emotional incompleteness, highlighting the depth of their unfulfilled desires. He

delves into the psychological impact of unfulfilled affection, showcasing how these

experiences shape characters' identities, thoughts, and perceptions about love and relationships.

His narratives often blend poignant beauty with melancholic undertones, creating a bittersweet

atmosphere that evokes a profound emotional response from readers. The stories leave a lasting

impact due to their emotional resonance. The exploration of unrequited love transcends cultural

boundaries, making these narratives universally relatable and contributing to a broader

understanding of human emotions and relationships. Ruskin bond doesn’t only writes

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beautifully about the love cradled in the mountains side by side the societal that delve into the

cultures which are prevalent there and which somehow become the main reason of breaking

the hearts and ending a love story. Bond's stories highlight the universal themes of longing,

acceptance, and the complexities of human connections, offering profound insights into the

human condition. The love stories rarely see a happy ending but without being discouraged

they enjoy in accepting the blessings they have in their lives, no matter how small they seem

to be.

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 WORKS CITED

Bond, R. The Night Train at Deoli. In Collected Short Stories. New Delhi: Penguin Books.

(2016)

Bond, R. Love is a Sad Song. In Collected Short Stories. New Delhi: Penguin Books.

(2016)

Bond, R. Time Stops at Shamli. In The Complete Short Stories and Novels. New Delhi:

Penguin Books. (2003).

Bond, R. The Rupa Book of Love Stories. New Delhi: Rupa & Co.(2010).

Sharma, S. JETIR. The Love Stories of Ruskin Bond. (2018).

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