Chapter-19

At midnight time, Lakshman is sound asleep in his cozy room whereas Hrida is walking on the ghostly shushed roads with a shawl clutched tightly against her body, her body dancing lightly to the chilly breezes. She exhales warm breath into her open palms to make her brain believe that there is still warmth left. 

Her feet passed through many vacant roads and closed markets, finally stopping at a railway station. She sighs in relief," Finally, I found a safe spot for tonight. I am feeling like my legs will fall right now. Seriously I feel my energy return to my body seeing these bright neon white lights highlighting the railway station board. Let's get in."

She observed a countable amount of passengers waiting for their train at their respective platforms. A thought kindled in her brain," Unlike me, the passengers here have a place somewhere to go or belong to…"

Hrida heard a light rumble in her stomach, she knew that her stomach was craving food to satiate its hunger, she took out a bunch of grapes and popped them in her mouth one by one, savoring the juice of the grapes slowly to make her feel that she is eating a lot of grapes. She unconsciously lowers her arm towards her right side and speaks with a caring tone," Here, Tapish…Ohhh, I..forgot..that you are no longer there…sniff..sniff "

She expresses with a heavy tone," I miss you. I feel alone for the first time in my life. Our memories are playing on record in my brain right now and all sweet memories. My sweet Tapish, I am lucky to have you as my elder brother. Love you, brother."

The brain can't distinguish between sweet and bittersweet memories, so she also travels through memories like when her parents gifted ' Tapish' when her mother bought her a box of headbands to distract her from pain, granted her permission to visit Shashi's home for the first time, her father playing dollhouse with her when she was in 4th grade and also when her father gifted her that same 'pen' when she scored good marks in 5th grade.

Hrida heard a bunch of people rejoicing at the bench next to her, she didn't mind but then her eyes fell on their outfits, and she remarked that they were the same kind of outfits like a uniform code. She shrugged off as she shouldn't pay attention to these things because she was not interested at all; she tried to concentrate on the cricket sounds rather than focusing on the noisy background.

She leaned her backpack on the armchair and laid her head trying to sleep despite the noisy background. The blurred noises of the train engine, platform announcements, and footsteps tapping against the ground acted as a soothing balm to the chaotic mess running wild in her head and heart. 

It's been 10 minutes trying to sleep, and then finally she felt the sleeping goddess caress her eyes but something interrupted her sleep and she woke up with a surprised expression as she felt wetness on her face. She heard a giggle and laughter; she looked up and noticed two members of that same gang seated by the next bench hovering near her. She stood and faced them in their eyes with heated glare which didn't affect them at all. 

One of the questions with a stupid smile on his face," How does it feel to have a free service shower? Miss Cinderella, doesn't she look like pretty dirty poor clothes, then can I be your Prince charming, I mean I am in a better state than you. What do you say, Cinderella? "

  Another rich clothed girl speaks with a fake royal tone," Ohhh, poor her. Swash, wouldn't she be too low for your standards, I mean she is pretty but her standards appear too low to consider her even a friend. Her hair looks like a messy broom, pfffft…"

The boy replies with a foolish creepy smile," I don't mind at all. She looks too pretty to even notice her state, Miraa…" 

However, Hrida didn't give care about their conversation and remained still like she didn't hear a thing, which caused damage to their egos, so Swash stole her backpack and passed it among their gang like a passing ball, she felt her fists clench in irritation and her tolerance level broke, she stamped upon their feet with force making them groan ' Ouch-ouch'.

One of them who had her backpack, raised it high in the air with his arm bent in the direction of train tracks, she immediately realized his cruel intention, she rushed towards him to stop him but before she could, he had already thrown, she gasps with glossy eyes.

  A boy of nearly the same age as her came in at the correct time and caught her bag in reflex with a surprised expression, the gang was annoyed by his interference, they paced forward with fast steps but their steps turned back and returned to their bench as they saw a police officer and fierce-looking man walk up to that boy and stood behind him. The policewoman asks him," What happened, why did you stop suddenly? Did you forget something on the train ?" Then she discovered a backpack in his hand, so she asked him," Dear, whose backpack is this? " The boy replies with an uncertain tone, " I don't know, Mom."

The gang scattered from there to a further seat far away from her, she giggled lightly under her breath, she slowly walked up to them, the boy stared at her with a skeptical gaze while his parents were confused at her entrance.

Hrida introduced herself to them with a natural gentle tone," Actually, I am Hrida Chand....and this backpack is mine. Those rude guys were messing with my backpack and one of them even tried to throw to the train track but he saved my backpack. So, Mr. Savior, I thank you sincerely. Seriously, Mr. Savior, if you hadn't interfered then I would have lost something important to me."

The boy was flustered and remained silent when she displayed a contagious smile. His mother caresses her cheek and compliments her," You sound well-mannered and your smile is really beautiful, child."

His father asks her with a warm tone," Where are your parents, child? " She answers with a neutral tone," I live near the railway station, so I came to relax here, I am well aware of the streets near this station."

The boy kept glancing around avoiding her face but she didn't mind. His father remembers then that he needs to contact someone to pick them up from this station, so he dials up some number and informs the receiver when the call is received," Lakshman, we have arrived at the station, will dad come to pick us up. Wait...He said he would personally come to pick us up and advised me not to come alone, now he is asleep, I assume? No, you are injured, how can you? But…

Okay, but on one condition, don't drive the car yourself instead bring a driver with you. Okay then, we will wait for you." The boy's father informs the policewoman," It will take him 15-30 minutes to reach here. Till then, let's wait outside the station." The boy's mother suggests," We should stay till his car arrives outside the station and Soma needs to rest as well since he has a headache."

Hrida offers a place on the wide-seat bench, the woman happily sits and makes Soma sit next to her while Soma's father is pacing around. Hrida feels hesitant to befriend a stranger but her curiosity is urging her to talk to Soma's mother. So, she eventually did and asked her with round innocent eyes, " Aunty, how did you become a police officer and why did you choose to be a police officer? Ohh…  Have you done some Dishoom... Dishoom to criminals? And have you been transferred here? And which police station, you are going to work under? "

Soma's mom chuckles light-heartedly," Woahhh…. Slow down... I will answer each question of yours. First of all, I became a police officer by working and studying for the police exam and also went through intensive training to get at this position but I wouldn't say that the journey was only hard as it was memorable and adventurous as well. I dreamt of being a police officer because I am passionate about protecting civilians and my country.

And in answer to your second question, Yes, I have done lots of Dishoom..dishoom (Punches) with criminals, moving to the third question, Yes, You are right about my job being transferred to this city. And, in answer to the last question; I am going to work in the same police station under my brother-in-law as assistant police inspector. Now, tell me about yourself, dear."

Hrida talked non-stop with Soma's mother about her hobbies, and her studies etc., after awhile Hrida observed that Soma was busy with his phone with one hand resting on his forehead rubbing circles harshly and his brows crunched in irritation. Hrida thinks," He seems anxious to me right now.  Since he saved my backpack from ruins maybe I can at least try to ease his headache. Yes, I will try but the question remains how?.. Hmmmm. Oh! I know. Thank you, God, for this brilliant idea."

She unzipped her backpack and picked out that one book she had with her, Soma's mom noticed her book and notified her in a warm tone," You know, Soma also likes books a lot especially academic ones, like literally, he has a different kind of love for academic knowledge. He is somewhat similar to the topper kind of personality in the movies that we see.

He is also quite obsessed with cats, he has a total of 5 cats in our hometown and now they are being kept under the care of my mother-in-law and father-in-law. He kept insisting let he bring all 5 cats with us; somehow I managed to make him convince to not bring them yet because those sensitive animals might face trouble settling in a new environment for now. Later, we will bring them here when we are accustomed to this city."

Hrida chuckles softly and gawks at Soma's mother with admiration for her cheerful and goofy way of talking. Shashi's face reforms in her mind when she thinks of the word 'Cheerful and goofy'. She re-focuses on Soma to help him ease his headache. She clears her throat dramatically near his ear, he glances through a corner of his eye then ignores her and returns to his phone. Hrida still determined attempted another try and asked him," Would you like to listen to an interesting story in my voice? " Soma denies politely with a disinterested tone, " Nope, not interested. "

Soma's mom nudges him and scolds him in a light tone," Don't behave in such a way to a sweet girl. At least-" She paused when she saw Hrida giving a thumbs up signaling her that she was okay with it.

Hrida reconfirms with a teasing tone," Are you sure, Mr. Savior that you don't want to hear my amazing narrator's tone then you are at a loss and I won't let it happen to you. I can't cause loss to a person who did me a favor. Nope, not happening in my presence, so I will definitely narrate a story right here and right now. Listening or not listening is your choice. "

Hrida opens the book, turns to the first page, and begins the story narration from the beginning in a narrative tone, which unintentionally attracts the attention of the people nearby especially Soma and Soma's mother although she is speaking in a normal-pitch tone but with intonation of expression in the tone which piques the interest of the listeners.

She narrates the whole story of Kaliyuga's birth without taking any pauses in between. Meanwhile, the listeners are enjoying her soft voice with undivided earful attention and curious eyes.

Soma's phone automatically was put back into his bag by his own hands and he was completely immersed in the story, he couldn't help but be fascinated by her expressive face and fluent narrative tone. He also took notice of a small moon-shaped birthmark on her left cheek, which is the most beautiful feature on her face according to his perception. Soma's headache was long gone since the moment his ears attentively listened to the story through her voice.

After the storytelling, a few passengers praised her narration style whereas Soma's mom is fully impressed by her, she asks Hrida," Hrida, if you don't mind, could you tell more about yourself? I feel good energy from you, so I want to get to know you better if you want to, there is no force or pressure intended."

Hrida shook her head and said with a hint of calmness," It is fine. I don't mind introducing myself in more detail to you, Aunty. I also feel warm and good sitting next to you, Aunty."

Hrida talked about her favorite things, memories, and many other things but she kept some things hidden from them as she didn't want them to know about her current circumstance. She then adds," I too love cats and I have one cat, who is more like my elder brother and his name is Tapish. He is just lovely, like really, he is the most handsome and adorable cat in my eyes."