The Trail to Spring

Chapter 15

As we entered the station, I could feel the busyness inside it even at such a late hour.

Coolies carrying heavy luggage on their heads, people squatting or lying down in the various corners of the station, families small and big hurrying to catch their train and the busy vendors desperately trying to sell their items to the seemingly unheeding customers, it was like a mini city in itself housing such a variety of people from all across the city and the state. But then that was probably the special thing about stations.

I stood in line to cut three tickets for the Darjeeling Mail.

"You'll be paying for your ticket, right?," I asked Rakesh.

He shook his head. "Nope," he replied, "You'll have to pay it for me. In return I am helping you solve your case for free."

"Spoke just like a lizard," Atifa said.

"Hey, you must be grateful to me," he said, defensively, "I am helping your friend here for free when I could solve my own case and drown myself in fame and money."

I looked at my wallet and realised that I didn't have enough for all three of us to make the journey and then return again. I told this to both of them and both of them volunteered to accompany me to Darjeeling.

But I knew that Rakesh was more willing to help me and he was also a detective. So it was only natural that I chose him. After hearing my decision, Atifa took me out of the line and pushed me away for some distance until we were well out of range of the detective's earshot.

"Maya, you are being foolish," she said. "And arrogant," she added.

"I don't know what you mean," I said although I did know what she meant.

"Tell me something honestly," she said, "Do you really think that going off to Darjeeling with a complete stranger is a decision that any sane woman will ever take?"

"I know what you are trying to say, Atifa," I tried to assure her, "And I am pretty sure Rakesh is pretty honourable."

Atifa slapped her forehead in desperation.

"Can't you see?," she asked, pointing at the detective, "Look at him. Look at him carefully. Have you ever seen a stranger person in your life?"

I looked at Rakesh. He had his hands inside his pockets again and was busy whistling away a tune to himself.

"Have you ever seen a guy who keeps his front door open and wears sunglasses inside his house? And don't you think it is strange that he is so willing to accompany you even though he turned you away just a few hours ago?," she asked.

"Relax, Atifa," I said, "Everything will be fine."

I went back and joined the line for the ticket counter again.

"Like I had said," Atifa said, shaking her head, "You are naive."

It took me twenty minutes to reach the ticket counter because the man standing in front of me took forever to buy his tickets. I noticed that he had a fresh oddly shaped scar on his forehead.

"He must be running away from his wife," Atifa whispered in my ear.

The man looked back at us with a puzzled expression as we giggled behind him. He promptly took his tickets from the counter and walked away.

I knew chances were that all seats would be already full for today's coaches. And yet surprisingly, the man in the counter informed me that there were a few empty seats in the sleeper class of the train even after the second reservation charts were out and I was able to get two tickets in the same. It seemed like luck was finally favouring me.