LOST

21. SAPNA

~ Sapna ~

I lay on my back, staring at the curved metal ceiling of the train. After having spoken to Aadi, I felt lighter than ever. All the time I talked, he never uttered a word. He just kept on listening, accepting my craziness. Perhaps, he already knew everything, given my suspicion over his conversations with my parents. But even though, he didn't show that he did. Instead, he made me feel okay.

His smile was so contagious, it never left me.

And his eyes held warmth; the kind of warmth I craved.

I giggled distractedly, turning on the side, watching him engrossed in his phone. It was a little after eight and I was hungry. So I climbed down and asked Aadi to order us food.

I was about to begin eating, when my phone sprung to life. Ma.

Just as I had expected, they wouldn't doubt my absence until it was dinner time. According to Nanu's plan, I was supposed to let my phone ring for the first time and then switch if off for a couple of days. I didn't know why he asked me to do that because it seemed utterly pointless to me. However, Nanu said if I followed his instructions, he would know that I was safe.

"Is everything okay?" Aadi, who had a concerned look on his face, asked me.

I nodded. "It's Ma. I'm sure they're worried."

"They will be fine," he snorted.

We ate in an awkward silence, and as soon as I was done, I went back up on my berth, for I needed some space.

"Sapna?" A soft shake on my arm stirred me up. I blinked, and Aadi's face came clear in view.

"We'll be there in a while."

I eased off the berth, trying to register when I had drowsed off. The watch showed 2:15 a.m. I went outside to freshen up. When I was back, Aadi had readied my bag, and kept all my belongings – that I had cluttered last night in order to find my earplugs – in place.

Minutes slowed down as we sat there in a ticklish quietude, waiting for our destination. The train decelerated before coming to a halt. Aadi got down and held his hand out for me. I took it and stepped down.

The station was noiseless, except for the occasional grunts from the people lying on the corners, trying to catch sleep. There was an eerie glow where the exit stood. I breathed deeply, an unsettling fear swallowing me whole as the thought of what my situation would have been like if Aadi wasn't here crossed my mind. I hadn't even planned my next move. Where would I have gone at this hour of the night? I was still holding Aadi's hand. Only, I was clutching it tighter.

"Wish to spend the night here Princess?" He smirked at me.

I shook my head, losing the ability to speak. He started walking and I followed him, never letting go of his hand.

"I'll get one," he pointed towards the long line of auto rickshaws and sprinted away. The chilly breeze made my hands cold with the loss of contact. When he was back, we rode in the rickshaw that he got for taking us to his place.

The city was motionless, unlike Indore which buzzed up after midnight and parties went on till early morning. There was absolutely no one on the streets. It was completely dark. The streetlights gave out a steady radiance to the road, showing us the way. A few shops and stores had their signage boards lit, displaying their names. There were trees on the sidewalk; some huge, some slender.