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Karan walked down the ladder to the main gate of the railway station, sadness weighing heavily on his heart. What had started as a chance meeting had quickly turned into a whirlwind of emotions. He had enjoyed Riya’s company, but now he was left questioning everything. He hadn’t thought anything beyond their brief moments together, yet the accusations haunted him as he lost himself in thought.

As he neared the Pune station gate, he felt a sudden touch on his shoulder from behind. He turned around, and to his surprise, it was Riya.

“What happened? What did they say?” she asked, concern etched on her face.

Karan hesitated for a moment before relaying the goons’ accusations. “They said you’re a thief, that you took someone’s money. I… I didn’t know what to think.”

Riya’s eyes widened, and she shook her head vehemently. “Whatever they said is not true! I’ll tell you everything, but not here.” She glanced around, her expression serious. “Let’s go somewhere where they won’t find us or harm us, at least.”

Without waiting for his response, she reached for his hand, her grip firm and reassuring. Karan felt a flicker of hope as they stepped out of the station gate together, the bustling world outside seeming less daunting with her by his side. They moved quickly, seeking a place where they could talk without the looming threat of the goons.

Karan and Riya walked out of Pune station, weaving through the late-night crowd that was beginning to thin. Just a few steps away from the station, they spotted a small garden—an island of greenery surrounded by traffic and late-night vendors. It was still busy enough with people coming and going that Karan felt assured that no one could harm them here, at least for the time being.

They found an empty bench near the edge of the garden, where they could sit and talk in relative privacy while staying visible to the passing crowd. It was 10:45 pm, and the faint glow from the streetlights cast a dim but calming light over them.

Karan had sensed something off about Riya ever since he’d met her. She looked tense, her gaze flitting between him and her surroundings, as if she expected someone to appear from the shadows. Finally, she broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I need to tell you something,” she said, looking down at her hands, fidgeting with the edge of her saree. “I’m… I’m married.”

Karan blinked, processing her words. He hadn’t expected this. He looked closer at her, noting her red saree, the way it seemed so carefully draped, yet her whole appearance seemed tired, worn down. There was a tension in her eyes, a kind of guarded pain that hinted at something much deeper.

She continued, her voice cracking slightly. “I ran from home because my husband… he used to beat me. I wanted to leave tomorrow morning when it would be safer, but I just couldn’t take it anymore. I left tonight. I had to.”

Karan listened in silence, sensing the weight of what she was saying, feeling an urge to comfort her but knowing that his words would probably do little against the hurt she had endured.

“My uncle is coming tomorrow morning,” she went on, her gaze fixed on the gravel beneath her feet. “He’ll meet me at Shivaji Nagar station and take me to his place.”

Karan nodded, trying to piece together everything she was saying. Shivaji Nagar—the next stop from Pune. Just one more station. But right now, that small distance must have felt like an ocean to her.

After a moment, he asked gently, “Riya, why didn’t you go to the police? They could help you get away from him, keep you safe.”

She shook her head, her lips twisting into a bitter smile. “Cops… they’re not what they seem. My husband, he has connections. They take bribes from him, look the other way. If I went to them, I’d just end up trapped. There’s nowhere safe for me except with my uncle.”

Karan clenched his jaw, feeling a pang of anger on her behalf. He wanted to tell her that things didn’t have to be this way, that she deserved safety and justice. But he knew that in her world, the reality was different. She had made a choice that many wouldn’t have the strength to make, breaking free from a life that had worn her down.

He glanced at his watch. It was now 11:00 pm. In ten minutes, his train would arrive, a train he needed to catch to continue his journey. But here she was, alone, in the middle of a city she barely trusted, with hours to go before her uncle would arrive. His mind was torn between the life he was supposed to return to and this fragile connection he felt with Riya, a stranger yet somehow someone he couldn’t abandon.

Riya seemed to sense his hesitation. She looked up, forcing a small, sad smile. “You should go,” she said quietly. “You have your train, your plans. I don’t want to keep you. I’ve already taken up too much of your time.”

Her words felt like both a plea and a release, letting him off the hook while subtly hoping he might still stay. Karan felt his chest tighten, the weight of a decision pressing down on him. If he left, she’d be here alone until morning, facing the uncertainty of a night in hiding. But if he stayed, he’d miss his train, throwing his own plans into question, leaving him tied to someone he’d only just met.

As he glanced between her and the distant lights of the platform, the sound of an approaching train echoed through the night air, reminding him that his time was almost up.

Karan glanced at his watch—11:15 pm. Time had slipped by faster than he’d realized. His train had come and gone, but he didn’t regret missing it. He looked over at Riya, and in that moment, he knew he couldn’t leave her alone here, not like this.

“Let’s go to Shivaji Nagar,” he said firmly, his voice steady with resolve. “We’ll wait there through the night, and I’ll stay until your uncle arrives. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

For a moment, Riya just stared at him, her eyes wide with surprise, as though she couldn’t quite believe that he’d made this choice, one that bound him to her for the night. Then, slowly, her expression softened, gratitude flickering in her eyes as she nodded, a small, relieved smile crossing her lips.

They hailed a cab from Pune station, and Karan paid the fare without a second thought. Riya slid into the backseat, and he followed, closing the door as the car started its journey toward Shivaji Nagar.

As the city lights flickered past them, Karan noticed Riya’s demeanor shift. The tension in her shoulders seemed to melt away, replaced by a lightness he hadn’t seen before. She struck up a conversation with the cab driver, laughing at his jokes, even sharing stories of small things that made her smile. Her laughter was soft but genuine, and Karan found himself captivated by this unexpected side of her—a glimpse of who she was outside of the pain she’d carried.

Karan watched her in quiet amazement, feeling something within him soften as he listened to her talk. It was like she’d found a small pocket of freedom in this moment, one where she could breathe without looking over her shoulder. For a few minutes, she seemed unburdened, as though the person she’d been—before everything had broken around her—had come back to life.

He felt a mix of happiness and relief seeing her like this. It was a reminder of the resilience she carried within her, a strength he respected deeply. In a way, it made his decision feel right, as though fate had intended him to be here, at her side.

After a journey filled with light banter and laughter, they arrived in Shivaji Nagar at 1:00 am. The neighborhood was quiet, with only the sound of the cab pulling up to the curb breaking the stillness of the night. Karan’s heart raced slightly, knowing they were finally at the station where her uncle would meet her.

As they stepped out of the cab, Riya turned to him, her expression a mix of gratitude and uncertainty. The darkness felt heavy around them, but Karan was determined to see her through this night, ready to ensure she found safety and a sense of belonging again.

As the cab drove away, Karan and Riya turned towards Shivaji Nagar Railway Station. The quiet of the night surrounded them, but an unsettling tension hung in the air. Just as they stepped onto the sidewalk, they froze in shock.

On the steps leading up to the station, almost ten goons stood waiting, their eyes locked onto the couple with a predatory intensity. The sight sent a shiver down Karan’s spine.

“Wow,” he thought, heart racing. “To protect her from two bad guys at Pune Station, I brought her here, where there are almost ten waiting for us!” Panic surged through him as he assessed the situation.

Riya clutched his arm, sensing his apprehension. Karan could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He had to protect Riya, and he had to figure out how to turn this situation around. But with every second that passed, the danger loomed larger, and the odds stacked against them.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm the chaos in his mind.