A Train Story (Part I)

 

It was a nearly empty train compartment. She sat by the window fiddling with a Rubik's Cube. Outside, it was getting dark. The farms and small huts raced past. The slight drizzle accompanied by the clickety-clack of the wheels created a wonderful symphony, but she couldn't seem to enjoy any of it. It all faded into her mother's voice saying, "इतनी दूर अकेले नहीं भेजना चाहिए। बच्ची है।" (We shouldn't send her this far alone. She's still a child.)

 

    She started to realize what her mother meant. All of a sudden, she felt all eyes on her. The society had instilled a fear so deep in her that all the rationalism in the world couldn't make her feel safe now. She looked around. On finding no friendly face, she winced a little and continued looking out of the window cluelessly.

 

    She knew that the Berdewadi Tunnel was coming up. The train had slowed down to a graceful trot. Before setting out, she was most excited about this part of the journey. She had heard that the tunnel is more than 4 kms long and the view at the end of it is iconic but now all she could think of was home. This place was scaring her, and she had no control over it. She sunk to the back of her velvet seat and closed her eyes. The train entered the tunnel.

 

    "Hey, are you okay?"

 

    On hearing the voice, she got startled. Instinctively, she backed off a little and said in an alarmed tone,

 

    "Who's there?!"

 

    "It's okay. I have a seat in the row behind you. You were mumbling to yourself. So, wanted to check on you."

 

    She sat up properly. Scratching her eyes, she saw a boy looking at her. He kept an empty seat between them maybe because he thought she might feel comfortable or maybe just for COVID-19 norms. In a matter of milliseconds, she had a picture of him in her mind. He was probably a college student out for a trip at the end of the pandemic. She judged from his chubby face that he was a Bengali. All this time, she didn't realize that she was looking at him the whole time.

 

    "Umm...that's not awkward at all."

 

    She was pulled back to reality.

 

    "Oh, I'm sorry! The whole journey has me a little light-headed."

 

    "Oh, that's totally normal. Happens to the best of us. I'm Srikant and you are?"

 

    He extended his hand, but she was a bit hesitant.

 

    "Shreya"

 

    "First time alone?"

 

    She fumbled a little.

 

    "No! Not at all! In fact, I travel often! I'm a travel vlogger."

 

    "Oh, that's great! Can I have the link to your vlog? Actually, I travel a lot myself and I like watching documentaries."

 

    At this point, Shreya knew that she had exaggerated a little too much. Struggling to find composure, she said, "Oh, I'm really sorry. The website is down for maintenance. You know how it works."

 

    She smiled a little to advocate her string of fiction.

 

    "Oh, um okay. Not an issue! So, Shreya where are you headed to? That is, if you don't mind me asking."

 

    She felt her opening up to that stranger. Instinct told her not to mingle with a stranger she just met but Srikant felt a little different.

 

    "Goa. I'm headed to Goa."

 

    "Going to Goa alone? No friends?"

 

    "Nope. I have learnt to enjoy my own company", she said with a little pride.

 

    "Okayyy. That's great. Nice", he said clearly taken a little aback.

 

    "What about you?"

 

    Her hazel eyes showed a glimpse of curiosity and her face lighted up. Clearly, she wasn't very good at hiding expressions.

 

    "I'm headed to Goa too. Not for a vacation though. My grandparents live in Merces. It's been a long time since I've been there."

 

    "That's so sweet. It would be really nice to meet them."

 

    Srikant said with a smile, "Sorry?"

 

    Shreya realized what she just said and tried her best to divert.

 

    "Oh, I'm sorry! I meant, it's really nice of you to pay them a visit."

 

    Srikant chuckled.

 

    "He looks really nice", she murmured to herself.

 

    "Are you saying something?", asked Srikant inquisitively.

 

    "Nope! Nothing at all. Nature never ceases to amaze me", and she took a deep breath pretending to draw in the essence of all of it.

 

    Srikant couldn't hold in his laughter, "Shreya! We're in a tunnel! What amazes you here?"

 

    Shreya bit her tongue.

 

    "Oh, shizz. This is why I don't get any dates.", she thought.

 

    "I was talking about the journey so far. The Konkan line is scenic", she said trying to cover her tracks.

 

    "True that. I have passed so many times and yet there's more to see."

 

    "Mhm"

 

    After a long pause, Shreya looked at Srikant and said, "You can take the seat next to me."

 

    Without a word, Srikant moved to the seat next to her and took out his phone. From his shirt pocket, he pulled out a pair of miserably tangled earphones. It took him a minute to work through the mesh. Meanwhile, Shreya kept looking at him. When Srikant noticed that, he smiled and said, "I usually keep them untangled. I have no idea how this happened."

 

    "That's okay!"

 

    Srikant plugged in the earphones and played a song. A minute passed. Shreya wanted to talk to him but couldn't figure out what to say.

 

    Srikant took out one earphone and said,

 

    "That was rude of me. I'm sorry. Wanna listen to some music?"

 

    "Umm...okay", she said, barely hiding her excitement.

 

"Pal Bhar Thahar Jao,

 

Dil Ye Sambhal Jaye,

 

Kaise Tumhe Roka Karoon,

 

Meri Taraf Ata,

 

Har Gham Phisal Jaye

 

Ankhon Mein Tum Ko Bharoon,

 

Bin Bole Baatein Tumse Karun,

 

Agar Tum Saath Ho, Agar Tum Saath Ho."

 

Both listened on. None said a word. The music did the talking. A slight smile ran across Srikant's when he noticed Shreya humming to the music.

To be continued...