Sirf tum❤

04. Upma😅

**RADHYA'S POV**

I don't remember when I fell asleep... I had stomach pain last night, but now I feel fine. Maa is still sleeping. I take out my mobile and see the time—it's 6:30 in the morning. The train is now moving at a steady speed, neither fast nor slow. I check the train tracker app, and it shows that the train is already 3 HOURS LATE.

This train should surely be renamed. I sit there, bending my body, as a person is sleeping in the middle seat. I open the window and let the cool breeze blow on my face—fresh air without any harmful gases.

I can't sit properly as my head hurts whenever I sit. I sit with the support of the window. My one hand is resting on the window pane. Ouch! It hurts sitting like this, but what else can I do? I have no other option.

Only that man... I think he is a bachelor 😅. Only the two of us are awake; everyone else is sleeping like logs 😂. He is also looking out the window.

I look at him and observe him. Where have I seen him? Suddenly, he also looks at me and smiles. I smile back and quickly look towards the window. He smiled at me... Does he know me?

My hands are aching from sitting like this, so I lay down. My sister's marriage should have been completed by now. At 11 am, their reception will start.

This train was supposed to reach our destination around 9 am, but it is already 3 hours late. This means we will arrive around 12. Wow! We will reach just when everyone is enjoying their food. How awful it feels when family members arrive late for a family function.

If the train halts any longer, I am sure we will reach the hall when everyone has already gone home, and we will get nothing—no reception, no food.

I am hungry now, and there’s nothing in my bag. No snacks. I finished the chips packet yesterday evening. My stomach is growling. I want to have masala tea and some snacks to munch on.

Maa wakes up and tells me to brush my teeth. I go and first sprinkle some water on my face. I don't want to sleep much. I just want to enjoy the outside view, but I have to sit in a bent position.

When I return, Maa goes to the washroom. I unlock my phone, and Papa calls me. I pick up the call and talk to him, then with my brother. Maa also talks with them.

As soon as they end the call, I receive another call. This is my aunty (Maa's sister). I give the phone to Maa, and they talk for what seems like an hour. Just kidding, only 20 minutes.

Will anyone come today, serving tea and snacks?

Radhya: "Maa, when will tea and snacks arrive? I am hungry."

Maa: "A tea seller came around 6 am. You were fast asleep, so I didn't wake you up and had my tea."

Radhya: "You should have woken me up. Now, what am I going to do?"

Maa: "Don't worry. They will come again, or when a station arrives, they will come."

Radhya: "If they don't come, then I will get down at a station and bring something to eat for us."

Just then, a man holding a basket comes by, shouting, "Upma, Upma."

Maa asks if I want some. No, I just don't like Upma. So, Maa asks him if he has anything else to eat. He says no. I tell Maa that I don't want any, and she takes Upma for herself. That man also takes Upma from him.

I lay down again, holding my stomach. I am hungry but don't want to eat. Maa asks if I want a bite. I nod a big no and close my eyes.

After Maa finishes eating, she calls me. I wake up and sit. She tells me the taste was okay—not good, not bad. Then we both sit. The next stop or station is still an hour away.

My body is aching from sitting like this. That boy is sitting in his seat, and the seat next to him is empty as the passenger is sleeping. I decide to go and sit there. I tell Maa that I am not feeling comfortable sitting here. So can I sit there? I point my finger to show her the seat.

She first says no because he is a boy. I say that he won't eat me if I sit there. Finally, she agrees.

I take my shawl and wrap it around me. I go near the seat.

Radhya: "Excuse me! Can I sit here?"

He nods his head, and I happily sit down. The window is closed. I want to feel the breeze.

I try opening the window, but it is jammed, I think. I try again and again. Finally, I pull the shutter up, but it stops halfway and jams again. I try with all my strength.

He sees me struggling to open the window.

Man: "Can I help?"

I nod yes, and he comes over to try opening the window. He also tries, but it doesn't open. Then he goes back to his seat.

Man: "I think it's jammed now. It's not opening. Do you want to sit here near this window?"

Radhya: "No, I am fine here. You sit."

He nods, and then we both sit quietly. Maa has fallen asleep on the seat. Everyone else is sleeping, only we both are awake.

Man: "Where are you traveling?"

I look at him and then...

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