The Train

The train moved competing with the speed of the wind breaking through the darkness of the night. Everything outside the train looked so blurry and no one would dare even peak their head out as it was a heavy rain, too risky to open the doors.

“Tickets, please,” the TTR was checking the passengers at S7 coach and many of them had already retired to their bed as the clock crossed 10:30 PM already.

He tapped a young man, “Is someone accompanying you at 52?”

The drowsy looking guy stared short and nodded his head negative. ‘Where would he be? Has he missed the train?’ the TTR wondered. He re-checked the sheet and using his pen made a mark right beside the name ‘Vivek’.

‘Could allot the seat to someone else as Vivek seems to have missed his train,’ concluded the TTR.

But, little did he know…

Drenched in rain, Vivek was staggering to make his way atop the roof of the train as it whooshed past the strong winds, drenching rain and everything else in the atmosphere. He had no grip on the top except for the occasional metal container like spheres that provided feeble support. Undaunted by the perilous situation he is in, he treaded to move forward.

‘This should be the first class air conditioned coach. I’m sure this time he has no escape,’ he thought to himself and tried to wipe of the blinding rain drops.

In such high speed, it was impossible for any human being to get atop the roof of a moving train, leave aside climbing down into a particular compartment which sealed entry except for the doors. But, with the help of a small rope wound to the iron rod on the top and lots of undeterred bravery, Vivek lowered himself to the closed doors. He fished out the edge of the window railings and caught one, waiting for someone to open the door.

Praise his luck, an unsuspecting guard opened it to throw out his garbage and before he could react, Vivek simply clutched his shirt to throw him out of the passenger car. In a flash, he was inside the highly protected compartment. Calculating the guard patrols, he finally managed to sneak near the deputy officer’s private cabin and knocked the door. Like a fool, Mr. Malhotra opened the door, “Who’s there?”

Vivek immediately clutched him under his vice grip and pointed the gun to his head.

“Save me, someone,” shouted Malhotra alerting the guards outside and in came a senior security officer, much to the surprise of Vivek.

The two of them stood shocked for awhile but Rehman regained composure first and said, “Vivek, whatever happened we will enquire it later. Leave him and you will be unharmed. Don’t make me do this,” pointing his gun towards Vivek.

“I wouldn’t give up after I have come this far and not even for a close friend like you Rehman,” Vivek thought and shot right into Malhotra’s head. Simultaneously, Rehman triggered his bullet and two heaps of dead body fell on the floor of the train compartment.

“Damn you Vivek. This is not how it should have ended,” Rehman thought cursing their fate.

The camera fades back to … 10 years earlier…

***

‘Do you like the climax of the story, sir?’ Bala eagerly asked the popular hero who was mulling over the subject.

‘Ya, I do. It starts well and I hope it goes well too especially after revealing the climax to grip the audience,’ he replied.

‘It will sir,’ Bala said with confidence oozing out of his voice. ‘And, with this hero’s image I’m sure they would want all ‘commercial’ elements within. Hope the essence of my story survives and I succeed as a director,’ Bala made a silent prayer within his heart.

***