An Illusion That's Love

Chapter 5

Ananth arrived at his home. The front door was open and his mother was watching a TV serial sitting on the sofa. Seeing her, he was filled with a trace of bitterness. He could simply guess what she would have told Vandana fifteen years back.

He walked in, silently ignoring her.

He went to his room and put his bag down and took off his wristwatch. His eyes fell to his scar. A faint line on his wrist. He moved his finger over it. He changed his clothes and lay on the bed. His mother came in, "Anandu," she called his home name, "Don't u want dinner?"

"No," he was not in a mood to talk to her.

They were on a train. They were fifteen and scared.

The night train moved fast along the railway lines. Vandana was sitting in an empty train compartment with her head on Ananth's shoulder. He held her hand firmly. They were both scared. "Nandu..." She called him.

"Hm?"

"I am hungry." She said.

"A little bit longer, Nandu. Let us buy something to eat from the next stop."

She nodded. He hugged her shoulder and pulled her closer securely. She rested her head on his shoulder and went to sleep. He kissed her forehead. He kept holding her hand.

The train came to a stop at a station. It was around 11 pm. Vandana woke up. She looked around. Her hair was stuck to Ananth's skin because of sweat. She parted it away. "Are we out of Kerala yet?" she asked.

"No. Still in Kerala. We are at Shornur station," He told her. "Let me go and buy some food." He began to get up, but Vandana held on to his hand. "What happened?" He asked her affectionately. "Scared?" She nodded. "Don't worry. I will be right back." He said.

"No. Don't leave me alone." She said.

"Then you want to come with me?" He asked. She nodded and got up. "If people see us together at this time, they will be suspicious," Ananth warned her.

"I don't want to sit here alone. It's scary,"

"Okay... Come then. Let's figure out something."

They got out of the train. Ananth made sure that they both had their backpacks with them. He did not want to risk theft.

"Stay here where you can see me," Ananth told Vandana as they were on the platform, "I will go to that shop and be back in a jiffy." He indicated the snack shop ahead. Vandana nodded. She felt scared to stand alone, but she did not want to be unreasonable.

She waited as Ananth walked to the store. They had boarded the train in the evening. She had to sneak out of her house. She had packed the essentials in her school bag. In the evening, the train compartment was filled and they had to sit separately. But luckily by night, almost everybody got down and they were alone in a compartment.

While she was standing alone, Vandana noticed a man a beggar or someone living on the platform approach her. He had a creepy lustful smile on him. Vandana almost screamed. She ran to Ananth and clutched his arm. He was getting biscuits and chips. "What happened?" He asked, panicked. She just indicated the stranger.

Now the shopkeeper looked at them with suspicion. "Are you two alone?" He asked.

"No," Ananth said automatically. But the guy did not believe him.

"Where are you headed to?" he asked.

"Nowhere," Ananth automatically said, which put him more suspicious.