When Strangers Talk

Chapter 03

After a peaceful night, Luna woke up before dawn. She looked at the other seat, Brandon was snoring in deep sleep, dreaming of the seventy heavenly beauties.
She turned to her other side.
'I wonder how's Oleg doing...'
She thought.
Then she got up, moved towards the window. Looked upon the stars, slightly fading away with the spreading soft light of winters. Even she doesn't know how many hours she spent looking out of the window at the sky and the stars and then light and then the green side ways.
'Good morning!' Brandon said as he got up and stretched his arms.
'Good morning.'
'Breakfast?'
'No thanks, I have mine.'
'Don't you have any friends? I mean, you didn't take your cell phone out all this time...'
'I have. Twinkle and I have a good bonding with siblings. That's another matter, that I don't spend time with them. Actually, none of them does. And I have Oleg too!'
'Who's this Oleg?'
'Oleg is my best friend. He stays in my room. He has a separate bed. We three stay together, I, Twinkle and Oleg!'
'Really? That's great!'
'You're a nice person, Brandon.'
'Oh, thank you so much!'
'You know what, people are never loyal. No one. Really no one. Everyone keeps doing flattering and when they're done, they make their way out. There's really no such thing as friendship.'
'Oh, yes. But everyone's not alike...'
'We determine the dominating class. And the loyal people are a minority now. No one really cares, even if he's your spouse.'
Brandon gave her a blank look as he was not getting why she was saying so.
Luna continued, 'I've always been alone at least after my graduation. My siblings are a good deal but they're busy with their own lives. Once, I had a lot of friends. But time doesn't stay the same.'
'That's so true, the last thing.'
'I don't really know how much time I've spent like this. Sometimes, I really feel like I need someone to talk to me. Just talk and talk and talk and keep talking all day and night and from the dawn to the dusk until I feel that I've nothing left to talk about.'
'Why don't you talk to Twinkle and stay home then?'
'I don't feel good at home. When I stay home, I talk to Twinkle all the time.'
'Eh.. and what's wrong about home?'
'You won't understand that.'
'I can try.'
'Ugh... I don't wanna talk about it.'
'As you wish. But feel comfortable.'
'Wanna have some sandwiches?'
'Only if you have extra!'
Luna shared a sandwich with him and started her own while quietly looking out of the window.
'Time passes faster and moments fade away just like these things fade away from our sight.'
Luna said with a sad expression.
'Yes... So, you are like that since your forever?'
'No, not at all. I was a naughty girl. I was made like this when I turned 14.'
'What made you so?' Brandon whispered, he was doubtful that Luna will answer it or she'll insult him for asking personal questions.
'Circumstances.'
Brandon looked at her questioningly.
'Yeah,' Luna sighed and then continued, 'circumstances. Life was amazing when I was a kid. We used to live together, my parents and siblings (including Twinkle, I count her as my sister) and it was really a fun time wishing for stupid things and getting them straight away. Chasing dreams and laughing loud. We all siblings were sort of the same age group and we did every little fun that was possible for us. Our parents always used to stay busy with their jobs and never made time for us.'
'Oh, that's sad.'
'That's just not it.' Luna said very sadly, after a sigh of grief, she continued, 'When I was a high schooler, I got to know that my dad had a mistress. Mum knew it. But she never took a notice about it. But after some time, they started quarrelling about every little thing. Shouting and throwing things at 3 in the morning. We all used to wake up in the middle of the night and all we could do was to look around and see if there was a way to end this but it was a rule to never interrupt when mom and dad are fighting over something.'
'Oh... I feel sorry.'
'Don't be. Now it's been years. Mom got divorced. But she was a sharp and strong woman. Court gave our custody to mom. Rose was an adult then, Twinkle was supposed to go with my dad as she was his niece by blood, but she was over 18 (I and Twinkle just have a few days age gap) so she took the decision to go with us.'
Brandon was listening closely. Now Luna had tears in her eyes.
'But this calamity of fate wasn't enough with us, mom married another man within a year. A much richer man than dad to show him that she was always a better woman. But this matter ruined us. That man didn't like us. So we had to live all by ourselves in a separate home. Mom and our Dad both finance us, they fulfil our every demand of material things. But money isn't enough for a life. For a better, healthy life. Well, I don't wanna remember all that now.'
'That's really sad.'
Brandon offered her a handkerchief. She took it and continued to say without taking any notice of her surroundings, lost in her thoughts,
'Then I found Oleg and I became a traveller. Oleg travels with me everywhere but I left him this time with Twinkle.'
'Where did you find Oleg?'
'I met him on a walk in the City Park. I was feeling alone that moment. At the very same time, Oleg came and we talked about every silly thing and he became my best friend. I often cry in front of him when I'm down.'
'I feel better to know that you have a best friend.'
'Yeah.' she smiled.
There was an annoying sound like kizzzzzzz! Very loud. And the train got a sudden break. So sudden and shaky that Luna, who was lost in her mind, fall off her seat, in Brandon's arms.
'Oh, I'm really sorry' Luna excused hitting her head with her hand.
'It's alright but what was this noise about?.'
And then the ticket checker came and said, 'Sorry for the inconvenience but there's a technical fault in the train and it will take upto 5 hours for the repair. But there are 2 trains for this time, one going back to Brinston and the other going to Gloriyostous through Ashton but it's a long route and will take upto more than 2 extra days. Thank you.'
He went off. And Luna's face turned red as she could afford her mom's divorce but couldn't tolerate a delay in her travel plans.
'What are you gonna do? Better to take the Ashton route?' Brandon asked quietly.
'No! Not at all. I'm going back!' Luna panicked.
'Hey! It's not that big issue. Calm down.'
'It is. Wanna join me? Then come or else do whatever.'
Luna took her backpack and bottle, opened the compartment door and made her way through the crowd out of the train.