Chapter 4.
A Last Day & Loving Goodbye

The next day, Thomas arrived at Tidmouth with The Fat Controller who showed the engines and Ashima the newspaper.

"It's Ashima!" cried Nia.

"With the Culdee Fell Engines," said Percy.

"The front page, no less," smiled The Fat Controller. And he showed them the headline: "Meeting of the Mountain Engines."

The news went into the media, and everywhere Ashima went, she was having her picture taken, often times with Thomas, and sometimes alone and with the Culdee Fell Engines.

Several days later, it was time for Ashima to return to India.
"Before I go," she said, "I want to thank the engines and The Fat Controller during my visit, and while I was working with the Culdee Fell Railway, and on Thomas' Branch Line. It was a very enjoyable time for me, and I hope to come back again someday."

"I hope so, too," smiled Thomas. "And of course, you'll always see me whenever I visit India."

"Thank you, Thomas," smiled Ashima. "Would you like to accompany me to Brendam?" "I'd love to, if it's all right with you, Sir.

The Fat Controller agreed. So after a water filling, and putting coal in their bunkers, Thomas and Ashima puffed off to Brendam Docks. On their way down the main line, Thomas asked Ashima what she thought of the mountain railway. "I honestly love it," she replied. "It reminds me very much of my railway at home. The engines there were so nice and friendly. They had a lot of great stories to tell me, and it made me feel at home." Thomas smiled.

Ten minutes later, Thomas and Ashima arrived at Brendam. The rail ferry wouldn't arrive for another eight minutes, so they had time to say an affectionate goodbye to each other.
"Thomas," she said, "Thank you so much for making me feel welcome for my second time on Sodor. Words cannot describe how much I hoped to see you, how much I enjoyed being with you, and how much I enjoyed working on Sodor."
"It was my pleasure, Ashima," smiled Thomas. "And no matter where I go, words will never be able to tell how much I have a special place for you, in my heart. You really are a true friend of mine from India." "And you, Thomas, you are more than just a true friend from Sodor. So whatever you do, please never forget…" she paused. "…how much I love you." "And I love you… so much," whispered Thomas.
Then just like at Killdane, Thomas and Ashima gave each other a kiss that lasted for 10 seconds, followed by a nose nuzzle.
Two minutes later, both engines broke off from each other as they heard a loud horn coming from the rail ferry.

"I have to go home now," said Ashima softly. "I know," replied Thomas in a soft voice.

Thomas watched as the ramp lowered down. Then Ashima backed slowly away until she climbed aboard. Once onboard, Thomas watched as the rail ferry backed away. Then he gave one last goodbye blast from his whistle.

"Goodbye, Ashima!" he called.

"Goodbye, Thomas!" she called back.
Thomas watched the ferry go farther and farther away until it was out of sight. Then he slowly made his way back to the sheds.

That night, Thomas found it hard to sleep.
Although it felt good to see his love interest again, he was already missing her again. Then he looked to his right, between the doors of berths 6 and 7. Thomas' driver had taped the front page headline of Ashima's picture with the little purple engines.
Thomas grinned, as he now had something to remember her by. He fell happily asleep, knowing that that picture would help him feel closer to her.

At Kirk Machan Sheds, the seven purple engines were asleep, and would have wonderful memories in remembering their meeting with Ashima.

In India, Ashima was happily asleep. The was thinking of her love interest, Thomas, her new friends, Ernest, Wilfred, Culdee, Shane Dooiney, Patrick, Alaric and Eric, and most of all, the best time during her second visit on Sodor.

And she would forever be in Thomas' heart, where as he would be in hers, knowing how much they both loved each other.

THE END