The Paler Shade of Autumn Read Online Free PDF

than temporary pleasures. Darshan taught me that. The kids I look after remind me of that every day.”
    Autumn recalls what she saw, the desire Jet has for her. And it seems I remind you of what the children distract you from .
    “However, in saying that, it’s nice, every once in a while, to take a day off. I’ve been here for seven months now and today is my,” he lifts his fist and counts one, two, three fingers, “this is my fourth day off.”
    “I’m sorry to have intruded on your day.”
    He puts his palm up. “It’s no intrusion. It’s kinda nice to meet a fellow Aussie. Especially an Aussie who is so interesting.”
    Autumn smiles.
    “So are you going to tell me what else you saw? Surely my meeting Darshan isn’t the only part of my life I showed you.”
    She lowers her eyes, but she can’t hide the blush.
    “Ah. I thought it was something like that?” He isn’t embarrassed and doesn’t try to explain, merely lets it hang in the air that his emotions are real and are nothing to be ashamed of. Living how he lives, caring for the lives he cares for, there is no use for mind-games or pretence. There is only room for honesty.
    “How old are you, Jet?” she asks.
    He grins. “You don’t already know that?”
    She shakes her head, smiles. “There is plenty I don’t know about you.” Autumn looks to her hand. “The insights I receive are selective and limited. I really only see what is currently on your mind, or what has long bothered you.”
    He nods. “I’m twenty-seven.”
    “What did your parents say about you staying on here in India?”
    He shrugs. “Impartial, really. I’m a grown man. They know I make my own decisions and are happy for me to go my own way. They have always been like that.”
    “Do you miss them?”
    “Yeah, and my brother and my niece. But my family can look after themselves. My kids here can’t.” He smiles a wide smile. “So what are you doing here? You don’t look like the normal pilgrim that rolls through here in search of enlightenment.”
    “I won a trip.”
    “You won a trip?”
    “Yeah. From a travel magazine. I have to blog about my experiences.”
    “And you are here by yourself?”
    She feels frantic as she remembers David. In Jet’s company and after the incident with the old lady, he hadn’t even entered her thoughts. “No,” she says quickly, reaching for her bag to retrieve her mobile. “I’m here with a guy.”
    “Oh,” whispers Jet. “Your boyfriend?” There’s a gloomy inflection, which Autumn doesn’t catch.
    She checks the screen of her mobile for a message or missed call. Nothing. David must still be on the toilet, poor thing. She turns to Jet, now able to give him her full attention. “Um, no, he’s not my boyfriend. He’s another winner.”
    “So you had to travel here with some random stranger. He could be a pervert or, or…”
    Autumn laughs. “He is a bit of perv. He’s been trying to put the hard-word on me since I met him at the airport in Brisbane. But other than that, he’s a decent guy. He’s been very helpful getting around India, that’s for sure. Poor thing is not feeling well now, though. He’s gone to find a toilet as we speak.”
    Jet winces. “Ooh. Not good. But still, better him than you.”
    “I told him not to eat those cucumbers.”
    Jet laughs. “On the train?”
    “Yeah.”
    “He’s not the first to come off second best as far as they’re concerned. Jennifer, the girl I work with, was sick for a fortnight after eating the shit they serve on those trains.”
    “We’re flying home tomorrow night. I hope he’s better by then. A twenty-nine hour flight with food poisoning doesn’t sound too appealing.”
    “You’re leaving tomorrow?”
    She hears his disappointment this time and finds it rather curious, considering they have only just met. However, she can understand how he would be lonely here all by himself. Her body buzzes with sympathy for him.
    Her phone interrupts the moment.