Kathmandu, Sept. 19 -- On the Tube, he stood over me like he was guarding me from the world; his back almost arching to keep the world out. Whenever I looked up at his face, he would look into mine and smile, his eyes widening like he'd just received a surprise. I suppose we were his surprise!

Once, when the train tunneled in, I reached out for him in reflex and my hands clutched his jumper briefly. I let go quickly, in embarrassment.

Some fellow-passengers stared at us. You know how it is when people look at you and then swiftly away like they never looked your way, and still keep an eye on you from the corner of their eyes?

We must have been just another Asian couple to their eyes. Because he could have been placed anywhere from the ...