The train rattled to a stop in the dim, empty carshed, just a short distance from the station. A profound silence settled over the abandoned carriage, and in the shadows, Karan and Riya clung to each other’s hands, their grip growing stronger. They stood up slowly, facing each other, feeling the quiet tension between them.
In the dark, they couldn’t quite see each other’s faces, but the closeness—the warmth of their breaths mingling in the cool night air—was undeniable. Karan leaned in, his lips hovering inches from Riya’s, and she closed her eyes, letting the moment draw her in.
Just then, a beam of light cut through the dark, startling them apart. A watchman, squinting at the two of them, had shone his flashlight directly on their faces.
“Are you two alright? Did you fall asleep and end up here by mistake?” he asked, his tone a mixture of concern and bemusement.
Karan and Riya exchanged a quick, disappointed glance, both shaken out of the moment. After a slight pause, they nodded sheepishly, going along with the watchman’s assumption. “Yes, it was…a mistake,” Karan mumbled, feeling the intensity of the last few minutes slip away.
The watchman led them out of the dark car, where a few railway workers had gathered. Together, in quiet camaraderie, they all began the short walk back to the station. Karan and Riya strolled side by side, neither saying a word, their hands brushing lightly with each step as the night air filled with a strange, shared sense of what-could-have-been.
As they walked towards platform number 1, a flicker of relief surfaced between them, thinking they’d slipped away from danger. But that relief was short-lived. Standing in the shadows at the corner of the platform, unmistakably waiting, was the boss. He looked their way with a grim intensity, nine of his goons lurking just behind him.
Karan felt Riya’s grip tighten, and he squeezed her hand back, a silent promise that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He took a breath, holding his head high, and led her straight through the platform, threading their way through the thinning crowd. The goons didn’t make a move, restrained by the few lingering people around them.
But as the clock struck 2:00 a.m., the station began to feel emptier, the platform falling into near silence. People drifted away one by one, leaving only scattered figures here and there. The threat of being completely alone with those men grew more real with each passing minute.
Karan knew he had to think fast. He glanced at Riya, her face a mixture of worry and trust. He had to keep moving, to stay ahead of those shadows that followed. With a soft whisper, he reassured her, “Stay close,” and picked up his pace, guiding her toward the far end of the platform where faint lights barely reached, hoping to find somewhere, somehow, they could be safe.
Karan and Riya hurried off the bus and back into the open area of the bus stand. The station clock read 2:00 am. With every step, they felt the presence of their pursuers lingering somewhere close behind. Karan quickly scanned the lot, spotting a few buses lined up under dim, flickering lights. They needed to find one heading in the right direction—toward Kalyan or anywhere nearby—before the crowd thinned even more.
Finally, they found a bus marked for Dadar, a bit short of their destination but close enough to get them out of immediate danger. They stepped aboard, only to see it was packed, every seat occupied. Just as they were about to turn back, the driver noticed them lingering near the door. He looked them over carefully, as if sensing their urgency.
“Where are you heading?” he asked.
“Kalyan,” Karan replied, glancing over his shoulder, mindful of any familiar faces lurking in the shadows.
The driver nodded, “This goes to Dadar; from there, you’ll find other buses toward Kalyan.”
Reluctantly, they stepped down, not wanting to stand the entire journey. They turned back into the crowd, weaving their way to find another bus. But as they moved, Karan noticed the glint of metal, the unmistakable silhouette of a few familiar figures hidden in the dark corners, waiting for the crowd to clear so they could strike. Every nerve in his body screamed urgency.
Karan tightened his hold on Riya’s hand. With goons now blending into the shadows, time was slipping away. They needed to move, and they needed to move fast.
They decided to stand at the gate of the bus stand, watching each bus leave, hoping to find the right one at just the right moment. Karan and Riya took positions on opposite edges, scanning the buses passing through.
Just as a couple more buses rolled by, a loud, commanding voice shattered the night behind them.
“Why messing with us? Do you wanna die?”
The voice was clear, bold, and laced with an authority that made Karan instinctively turn back.
There he stood—the main boss. Scars marked his arms and face, each cut telling a silent story of violence and power. Karan was taken aback but refused to be intimidated. It was like two forces had collided under the dim streetlights: hero and villain, face to face.
They locked eyes, each sizing up the other in silence. The weight of the entire night, of every close call and near miss, hung heavily between them.
Just then, an abrupt distraction cut through the tense moment.
“Karan, let’s gooo!” Riya shouted, having stopped the very bus that was bound for Dadar.
The driver chimed in, “Let’s go!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Karan ran toward her, grasped her hand, and pulled her inside the bus just as the engine roared to life.
As the bus pulled away from the stand, leaving the shadows of the station behind, they felt a mix of relief and adrenaline coursing through them. The night still held its dangers, but for now, they were on the move, heading toward Dadar and away from the threats that loomed in Pune.
Both Karan and Riya settled into their seats next to the driver, the vibrations of the bus providing a sense of safety as it rolled down the road. Fifteen minutes passed, and they exchanged relieved glances, grateful to have escaped the danger that had threatened them just moments before.
The driver was friendly, engaging them in light conversation about the city and its sights. However, Riya’s heart sank when she glanced out the window and spotted a familiar face. One of the bikers from the gang was riding alongside them, a predatory look in his eyes.
“Driver! Karan!” she exclaimed, pointing frantically. “He’s following us!”
The driver’s expression changed as he glanced at the rearview mirror, noting the biker’s presence. For twenty tense minutes, the biker kept pace with the bus, the tension palpable as Riya clutched Karan’s hand. Just when anxiety began to creep back in, they approached a stretch of highway where only larger vehicles could traverse.
The driver finally relaxed, saying, “Now he can’t follow us. We’re safe on the highway.”
That revelation brought a wave of calm over both Karan and Riya, who finally took a deep breath. They leaned back in their seats, allowing the rhythmic motion of the bus to soothe their nerves as they continued on their journey to Dadar.
In the middle of the journey, Karan and Riya managed to find an empty seat behind the bus. Riya rested her head on Karan’s shoulder, her breathing steady as she drifted off to sleep. Karan couldn’t help but smile, thinking to himself how much she trusted him after everything they had been through. It was a profound realization that made him feel protective and honored.
Hours passed, and as the bus rolled into Dadar, Karan gently nudged Riya awake. They disembarked and quickly boarded a train to Kalyan. Riya was visibly exhausted, and she sank back into her seat, falling asleep once more. Karan stole glances at her, captivated by her serene expression. In his mind, she looked like a princess, and he fantasized about waking her up with a kiss. However, the jostling of the train and the hustle of passengers made that impossible.
Upon arriving in Kalyan, Karan made sure to buy Riya a ticket to Shivaji Nagar, wanting to ensure she reached her uncle safely. When Riya discovered that he had purchased only one ticket, her expression shifted from gratitude to disappointment.
“Why did you only buy one?” she asked, a hint of sadness in her voice.
With a gentle smile, Karan replied, “I can’t come with you right now. You need to be with your family.”
In a moment of jest, she proposed to him. “Then marry me! That way, you’ll be with me always.”
Karan chuckled softly but kindly rejected her proposal, wanting to spare her feelings. “I appreciate the offer, Riya, but I can’t.”
Her playful demeanor faltered, and she looked down, a shadow of sadness crossing her face. “If you won’t marry me, you won’t be able to marry anybody!” she said, a cute curse escaping her lips.
With a bittersweet smile, she turned away and boarded the train to Shivaji Nagar, leaving Karan behind. As the train pulled away, Karan felt a pang of regret, knowing this moment might be the last time he saw her.
