Change Ahead

Chapter - 3

A long distance train horn disturbed the thoughts about my family. It was my routine train. I was returning home from work. It has been almost 5 years since I ran away from my home. I miss my mom. Every day, I prayed to God that she is well.

The train slowed down and as it stopped, I got into it. Searched for a window seat and sat there. There were a few people here and there. It was not very late but I thought there were less people than usual.

I thought it was better to sit near ladies and walked to another seat. I went to an empty seat. A middle aged woman had occupied more than half of the empty seat. She turned to look at me as I sat there. She adjusted a bit and tapped on the seat indicating me to sit down. I sat down. Soon I was into my book.

Suddenly, a young lady came to me and asked me, "Hey Gaz... What are you still doing? I thought you went home early after the accident that suspended almost all the trains." It was Trisha, my train friend. I met her in a train about 4 years back. She came to me asking if I could help her get down in the right stop. I remember her being so talkative but humble. She was so innocent. She shook me asking, "What? You seemed to be so disturbed. Is everything ok? Are you alright?" She touched my head. I felt chillness in her hand. I felt worse. I wanted to get home and shut myself in. I nodded as if everything was ok. She shrugged and started talking about her day. She was my entertainment for the rest of the journey. I kept my head down and listened to her speaking. I felt her as a radio. She was non-stop with her mouth and cute little gestures then and there.

The train crossed several stations and reached my destination. She touched my shoulders and gestured saying, "Let us go."

I stood up with my bag and walked out of the train. We both started walking. I felt like someone was following us. I turned back and saw a guy following us. As soon as I turned, he stopped and turned back to make it look like he was following us. She still did not shut her mouth by the way. I could barely hear her. My thoughts were processing about the person following us. I could not see his face clearly. He was tall and had an average body. I hurried her to walk fast.

I could hear him breathe. He was close enough to touch us. I took my pocket knife and kept it ready in case he attacked us. My heart was racing. We walked even faster. He walked close to us for a while and stopped at the corner of our street. I turned back to have a look at him. He waved at me. I knew it was him. I turned and walked. My heart calmed down a bit. I kept my knife in. She called me, "Hey Gaz... " I did not respond.

She shouted, "Gazella...!! What happened to you today? You seem off. Are you ok?" She calmed down.

I said, "A guy was following us." She turned back to look at him. I stopped her from turning and said, "Don't look back. He may keep following us."

She said, "Gaz... Nobody is there. I do not see anyone."

I said, "He stopped in the corner of the street." She wanted to go back to see who he was.

She said, "Should be someone to propose me. They don't have timing sense at all." She sighed. I smirked at her and she smiled back at me.

I loved this thought of hers. She always thought that she was the Beauty Queen and everybody is looking at her always. She thinks that people die to say hello to her. She was beautiful indeed.

I reached home and shut the door behind me. I went to bed without changing. I lay down on my bed thinking about what happened today. I convinced myself saying that it was ok to be like that, to feel.

Varun happened today.