PARALLEL TRACKS | ✔

~SOMETIMES IT'S THE JOURNEY THAT TEACHES YOU A LOT ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION~

The chaotic buzz of Howrah station was overwhelming. People were everywhere, some rushing with purpose, others meandering with a certain leisure that seemed out of place in such a bustling environment. Vendors shouted their wares, children ran laughing between harried adults, and over it all, the crackling loudspeakers blared announcements in a language she barely understood.

Standing amidst this pandemonium, she felt a surge of determination tempered with a healthy dose of panic. She was not about to let her three massive suitcases get the better of her. Clutching the handles with a mix of desperation and stubbornness, she began to manoeuvre her way through the crowd.

"Excuse me! Sorry! Ouch!" She winced as one of the wheels of her suitcase ran over her foot. "Why did I think three suitcases were a good idea?" she muttered to herself. Each suitcase seemed to be possessed by its own mischievous spirit, constantly veering off course and bumping into unsuspecting bystanders.

The platform was a sensory overload. The smell of fried snacks mixed with the scent of freshly brewed chai. She sidestepped a vendor who was vigorously chopping onions and nearly tripped over a child chasing after a balloon. Her inner monologue was running wild.

"Why did I pack so much? It's just a week! I bet that guy over there only has a toothbrush and a change of clothes. Men! Always so practical. No sarees, no makeup, no hair straighteners. Just throw in some boxers and a pair of socks and they're good to go."

Just as she was about to give up and collapse onto her suitcases, she saw her train on the far end of the platform. A surge of relief coursed through her. "Almost there," she encouraged herself. With renewed determination, she pushed forward, ignoring the pain in her arms and the sweat trickling down her back.

As she reached the train, the reality of boarding with three unruly suitcases set in. The door seemed miles above her, and the gap between the platform and the train was, in her eyes, an abyss. She tried lifting one suitcase, but it barely budged.

"Okay, you can do this. Just one at a time," she muttered, more to convince herself than anything else. She managed to get one suitcase halfway up the steps before it slipped from her grasp and thudded back onto the platform. She let out a small groan of frustration.

"Need some help?"

The voice was calm and steady, and she turned to see a boy, probably around 27 or 28, standing beside her. He wore specs, a sky-blue full-sleeve t-shirt, and black cargo pants. He had a small bag slung casually over one shoulder. She couldn't help but feel a pang of envy at his light packing.

She hesitated, not wanting to impose, but before she could say anything, he had already picked up one of her suitcases and effortlessly hoisted it onto the train. Then he grabbed the second, and finally the third, stacking them neatly just inside the door.

"No problem," he replied with a smile, adjusting his glasses. "Traveling light has its perks," he added with a wink, as if reading her thoughts.

She felt her cheeks flush as she let out a nervous laugh. "Well, I'm just... uh... preparing for every possible scenario," she said, her voice slightly higher-pitched than usual.

From the corner of her eye, she couldn't help but check him out. He was calm and collected, with an air of effortless cool that contrasted sharply with her frazzled state. She noticed the way his specs sat just right on his nose, and how the blue of his t-shirt brought out the color in his eyes.

"And, um, I guess I'm just really bad at packing light," she added, feeling a little silly but also amused at the situation.

He chuckled, a warm sound that made her smile despite herself. "I could give you some tips if you want," he said, still smiling.