Kalaba Kadhala | Part 1

Chapter 15

Train Station

The strident whistle of the train echoed through the station, drowning out the thrumming of his heart. Prabhas emerged from the night, heavy with determination and the frantic excitement of fear. The glowing lights flickered as he scanned the crowded platform, his gaze piercing through the myriad of faces, searching for the one who mattered most, his heart thudding louder with each passing face.

Three men loitering by the entrance, all with an air of predatory menace. They looked out of place among the families, tourists, and commuters, their eyes darting about like hawks searching for prey. Anushka. They would find her, and he couldn't let that happen. He could feel the darkness closing in; it wasn't merely about saving her now, it was about owning up to the mess he had created in both their lives.

"Sweetyy!" he shouted, forcing his way through the bodies crowding the platform, his heart sinking deeper with every step. She had to be here. She had to be safe.

He spotted a glimpse of her. The zigzagging crowd felt as if it were moving in slow motion. Men's faces morphed into blurred threats as he pushed himself closer to her, fear gripping him harder than his own anger.

"Prabhas!" She stood at the very edge, her eyes filled with panic, a sense of urgency radiating from her. She was almost ready to board her train, her escape so near yet so perilous.

"Get away from there!" he shouted, the rough timbre of his voice pulling her attention. The three men had noticed him too, shifting their stance, the glint of danger clear in their eyes.

"Prabhas, what are you doing?" She reached out, her voice a mix of fear and concern. "You have to go! This isn't safe for you."

"I can't let them hurt you," he replied, each word charged with raw emotion. "I won't let them take you from me."

Before Anushka could respond, the three men advanced, surrounding him like wolves closing in on prey. The crowd continued to bustle around them, oblivious to the storm brewing in this corner of the station.

"Time to let her go" one of the men sneered, stepping forward, fists clenched as if ready to strike.

"Don't you dare lay a finger on her!" Prabhas growled, adrenaline surging through him. "Step one inch closer, and I swear—"

"You'll do what?" The man interrupted, lunging forward. "Don't come in the middle of this... This is between her and us".

Rage flared as Prabhas felt the odds slip away. But his heart was resolute, a fire undeterred by intimidation. He stepped in front of Anushka, every instinct screaming at him to protect her. "I'm not going to let you hurt her," he said, his voice unwavering.

"Back off, Prabhas!" Anushka urged, fear threading through her words. "Please, I can't lose you like this. Just leave!"

"No! I won't let them—"

With a sudden rush, the lead man lunged at him. In a breathless moment, it was chaos—a flurry of fists, a whirl of shadows and anger, each punch drawing him deeper into the dark underworld he'd tried to escape. But all he could think of was Anushka—the way she smiled, the warmth of her laughter, the kindness that shone through her every glance.

——-

After the fights got settled, Prabhas and Anushka sat in silence in his car. He doesn't know what to tell her. Her beliefs were proved again right today. He cursed himself to put her life in danger again. It's not safe for her to stay back in Chennai anymore. She needs to go away from him.

"I think that was the last train. Shall I drop you home now?" He asked, breaking the ice. She replied with a brief nod.

He dropped her off in front of the gate. She turned to him hearing the sound if the engine and said-
"Can we talk?"