Train Saga

I strolled from my house to the Mumbai railway station amidst the noisy streets. I reached my platform on time to wait for the train which was to go to the city of Pune. I pulled out a novel from my bag and set about reading it. Nothing from around could penetrate my mind which was engrossed in the story churned by the book. Being an ardent reader of suspense thrillers, I couldn't have asked for a better time to satisfy my reading appetite. College-going students, farmers, businessmen, and people from all walks of life had materialized at the station to wait for the train that would transport them to their destination. A businessman was about to murder his wife. Oh, gosh! I seem to be lost in the twists and turns of the thriller novel. A man who looked to be in his mid-forties sat next to me as if to start a conversation. My mind had no space for small talks which irked him. His occasional grunts were the evidence which proved how much he despised me. My heart secretly apologized to him albeit silently for not starting a conversation which he was desperate for. Perhaps he could be a garrulous man who wanted to overwhelm me with his rhetoric stories. 

The vehicle which everyone was looking for came panting down the tracks, bellowing the smoke which whirled into the skies. The long snake-like train stranded at the station gave ample time for the passengers to the crowd at its body. The seriousness on my countenance courtesy thriller novel transformed into a smile as I looked at a train which would ferry me to Pune. My tastebuds threatened to shove me into hunger if I don't attend to their needs. I asked the shopkeeper to provide one biscuit and chips packet. He peered at me as if I was a terrorist who was posted here to shoot him. I tore the packet and stuffed some chips into my mouth to munch on its taste. I paid him the money, strolled along the platform and squeezed myself inside the train. I looked at my compartment which looked vacant. Without trying to grab someone's attention, I sat on the lower berth next to the window adoring the beauty of nature outside. The window was like television which played a channel that glorified the beauty of nature.

The sweet, cool breeze dishevelled my hair but caressed my face. A plethora of trees dotted one after the other appeared to bid adieu to me as the train propelled forward. I couldn't believe that nature was able to cease my voracious appetite to read suspense thrillers. Suddenly, an old man jumped opposite my berth to intrude on my privacy. He immediately slipped into a slumber wreathed with ear-shattering snores. I wondered whether I was stuck on a battlefield with arms of snores attacking me mercilessly. My eyes rolled to the left to see a giant man whose unwavering glare projected at me churned anxiety in my tummy. What is he up to? Is he going to pull himself up and slap me hard until I pee? His bulged biceps was of my thigh size. A freaking punch out of nowhere would spew blood off my mouth. I switched off my imagination button that seem to promote violence. The only way to avert the forthcoming violence is to apply silence. I didn't dare to stare at him which worked wonders because in just a matter of minutes he was nowhere to be seen. The old man who had finished his snoring endeavours pulled himself up reluctantly and got down at the next station. Many passengers rolled out of the train perhaps to soak in the morning sunlight. 

The street dogs in the station seemed to be in a violent mood since they pounced on each other as if to prove who was the boss. The aftermath of that relentless fight proved to be painful for one of the dogs that limped out. I thought such grueling battles which result in ugly consequences must be nipped in the bud. I piggybacked on my novel for a while to kill the time and just like that passengers poured inside the train. A woman with a baby occupied the berth opposite me. She smiled at me and I reciprocated the same. I was oblivious to the vomiting saga which was to unfold next. The baby winked at me while studying some food in its mouth. All of a sudden, it vomits out to render the place messy. The woman did not lose composure but rather handled the situation calmly which was quite admirable. I felt like moving to the other compartment but I feared what the woman might think. The cool breeze somehow managed to lullaby me to sleep and during that time, the woman had got down. 

When I broke out of my reverie, the train looked deserted with no one around. Was I feeling claustrophobic? Only two masked men were present in the coach. The clattering wheels chugged down the track. One of the masked men walked down the aisle and sat next to me. Why did he sit next to me? What is he up to? Is he going to pull out the dagger and murder me or slit my throat? Yet, again the bloody imagination was going haywire to assault my mind. 

He proffered his hand much to my astonishment. 

"How many stops before we reach Pune?" he asked.

I peered through the window and quickly responded, "three"

"Do you watch horror movies?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked with a deep sense of foreboding.

"Do you know how to escape from my clutches?" he continues to hammer my mind with his warning signs.

"I don't know who you are and I do think it would be bad on your part to do anything insane."

He broke into laughter which seemed unstoppable. Perhaps he had earmarked his talent to scare the hell out of me. I couldn't believe my eyes when he unmasked himself in slow motion. My hyperactive heart revived back to normalcy. The adrenaline rush became docile. He was none other than my friend Rohan who had premeditated this prank on me. I nudged him for trying to put me into a panic attack. The other guy was Sohail who was Rohan's friend. Had I known about this prank, I would have sabotaged it but now I just fell for it. Nonetheless, I am still breathing. We slipped into sports talk all the while till we reached the Pune railway station. The beautiful weather welcomed us with open arms and we did not hesitate to cuddle with the breeze. I felt wistful as I jumped out of the train and looked forward to another journey on the train to keep the saga rolling.