MAYA

THE FIRST MEET

HOW PHILOSOPHICAL IT WAS WHEN SOMEONE SAID "Light thought that it is the fastest but whenever it arrived at it's destination , it was met by another being of equal power , DARKNESS" 

A normal  night where the land is dark and moon is the only light falling on the railway station known to send people to their desired destination , One such person was him , A middle aged handsome man with a red travel bag asleep on the train , The train as usual stopped at the station to board other such persons , someone might be coming back from his workplace in hurry to spend time with those who care for him , some might be just late travelling away from their home , reasons similar to symptoms of AUTISM , varying from person to person.

How strange it was , each one is seeing each other like he is just a side character in the story but everyone is actually the protagonist in his own story. Or maybe the antagonist of their own story , a fact everyone is unaware of.

As the train rustled through the night, its rhythmic smoke echoing through the deserted station, a cloak of darkness covered the world outside. The only bright spots came from the delicate glow of the moon, casting long, strange shadows across the platform. Among the slumbering passengers, one figure stood out—a middle-aged man with a red travel bag, lost in the depths of his dreams.

In the midst of this nocturnal journey, a young woman emerged from the shadows, her presence as enigmatic as the night itself. With a book clutched in one hand and a blue jacket draped over the other, she moved with a fluid grace that belied an underlying sense of restlessness.

As she stepped onto the train, her eyes flickered briefly over the sleeping man, his form illuminated by the soft glow filtering through the window. Ignoring his presence, she settled into a seat, drowning out the materialistic world with the melodies flowing from her earphones.

But the man stirred from his rest, his gaze drawn to the stranger who had disrupted the silence of the night. With a sense of curiosity generated by her aura of mystery, he spoke, his voice cutting through the atmosphere.

"This book is a fascinating read," he remarked, breaking the barrier of silence that separated them. "I must say, you've got a good choice."

Startled, the woman glanced up, withdrawing her earphones to acknowledge his words. "You talking to me?" she asked, her tone equipped with skepticism.

Undeterred, the man persisted, "It's strange how you can vibe to music while reading a novel. I was admiring the choice you made by reading this novel. It's an impressive one."

The woman's brows furrowed in confusion, her lips curling into a skeptical smile. "Oh, this? I didn't choose it on purpose. It was just supposed to be a time killer for my journey, but it failed to meet any expectations. Such a plain and raw starting."

The man nodded thoughtfully, his eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement. "Some stories often have a simple start, but simple starts can lead to complex minds. And within the ordinary lies the extraordinary in the story of us."

Amusingly , the woman shook her head, unable to grasp the philosophical depth of his words. "Sorry, but I am not capable of digesting such a philosophical fact. Translate it, please."

With patience befitting a sage, the man embarked on an explanation, drawing parallels between the simplicity of beginnings and the complexity of human existence. Yet, his words failed to resonate with the woman, leaving her with a strange sense of bemusement.

As the conversation reached its conclusion, the woman's gaze fell upon the book in her hand, and a realization dawned upon her. she turned to the man, her voice soft with apology.

"You authored this book?" she inquired, her eyes widening in realization.

The man's response was a simple nod,  as he retreated into a curtain of silence. Yet, his acknowledgment spoke volumes, revealing a hidden fact of his identity that had remained latent in the shadows.

"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to offend you," the woman offered, her voice filled with regret.

The man's response was strange, hinting at depths yet unexplored. "Well, it was good. Only by hiding in shadows do you come to know what people think of you. Guess it was a survey for me."

And with those enigmatic words roaming in the air, the train rumbled on, carrying with it the secrets of the night and the mysteries of the human soul.

As the fog outside thickened, enveloping the train station in an eerie silence, Kavish felt a strange unease settle over him. He glanced out of the window, peeking into the dense mist, but could discern nothing beyond its impenetrable veil. It was as if the world outside had ceased to exist, leaving only the train and its passengers suspended in a limited space.

Sensing the unavoidable tension in the air, Maya leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous spark. "How about we play a game?" she proposed, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade through silk.

Kavish raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "What game, Maya?"

"See...wait, I didn't tell you my name, did I?" She was interrupted by her own thought of how that man knew his name.

Kavish chuckled softly, admiring her quick wit. "No, you didn't. It's written on your ID card," he replied, pointingtowards the badge pinned to her jacket.

Maya rolled her eyes playfully. "Observant, aren't you? Well, here's the game. We'll take turns telling each other a story, and then we'll ask a question based on it. A short, time-killing activity."

"Like Vikram Betal?" Kavish suggested, his eyes shining with a dose of nostalgia.

Maya nodded enthusiastically "Exactly! But don't worry, I won't be climbing any trees."

Kavish grinned. "I'll hold you to that."

"Alright, let's begin," Maya said, her voice filled with excitement. "I'll start by sharing an excerpt from the very book of mine you're carrying."

Kavish leaned in, anticipation running through his veins like elecltricity. He found himself eager to see where it would lead. With the fog outside covering the world and casting everything in a shadowy haze, the stage was set for a tale that promised to reveal mysteries both real and imagined.