It was a usual Saturday morning. The Dharwad railway station was throbbing with the labourers returning to their village after a week of hard work, the Engineers going back home to enjoy the weekend and the business man making their usual trips. A loud whistle was heard as the Dharwad Express prepared for its journey. A few goodbyes were exchanged and the train was on its way. Loud cries of babies filled the compartment as angrypeople continued their fight for seats. With the end of the last verbal fight, the atmosphere seemed to settle a little. Away from all this things, Sunil was busy looking out of the window. It was a sight he usually enjoyed. Lush green fields and fresh air. He didn’t need all this to dream for he seldom had few. He was 15 when his father died. He was forced to quit his studies and start working. They had a small grocery shop at the end of the city. His usual Saturday trip included meeting the retailers in Chennai and getting the goods for the shop. He was a stranger to the train and so was the train to him. The silence was broken by the voice of the ticket checker. He showed him the ticket and was again lost in his thoughts till he noticed a little disturbance at his opposite seat. The girl had lost her wallet and was finding it hard to explain to the TT that she did buy a ticket who refused to believe her. Apparently he was looking for some extra money and when he found that nothing was really available he threatened to take her to the next police station. Strange it was that the young girl with such a cute face was finding it hard to get any help from her fellow passengers. Sunil couldn’t see the plight of the girl and offered to pay the money. With a cunning smile on his face the TT accepted the little bonus.
“Where do you stay?”
“Dharwad .”
A moment of silence followed.
“What do you do?”
“I work.”
One more moment of silence and the girl couldn’t take it anymore.
“You seem too young to work.”
“Well, I have to.”
“Why?”
He had never thought that all in his life anyone would ask him this question. It brought out the pain in his heart. He didn’t know why he answered this question but the train was no longer a stranger to him. He kept on meeting her every weekend in the same train. They used to talk about what all he did the whole week and the girl used to amuse him by all her hostel stories. She was the only friend he had.
It was one of their usual meetings when she told him that she was getting engaged and now she is permanently shifting to her hometown. He didn’t know what to say. For the rest of the journey they didn’t talk. And then came the moment of farewell. She hugged him for one last time and gave him a bouquet.
A few years passed and Sunil was on his usual trip to retailers shop. On the way he saw a flower shop. He stared at the flowers with tears in his eyes. The young lady at the shop came out.
“So, you are in love.”
“How do you know?”
“Otherwise you won’t be staring at them.”
“What does that mean?”
“Those are I love you flowers. You want one for your loved one?”
Silence filled the air. The world stood still for him. He was never loved before by anyone. And now that he knew he was, it was gone. With tears in his eyes he looked at the lady again.
“NO, Thanks.”
And the train was once again a stranger to him.
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