The train reached the destination the next morning. They had to be very careful while descending down the steps of train, not to get their legs entangled by the long burkhas they were wearing. Now she found herself in that state again from which she had started her journey. Kaerlud. Who knows there can still be spies to trace me out? I must be very cautious around here too. Who knows anyone could be following me. Who knows it: she thought.
Ludwiggle station. A small station. They went to a shed and sat on a concrete seat. Few people were there. They were looking at them. She switched on her mobile phone. She got a couple of messages from Matthew. No one else had tried to call her; otherwise missed call alert messages would be flashing. She read Matthew's moving cute messages. Took some time, and then sent a smiley to him. His mobile phone beeped. He looked at it. Then Veronica wrote: It's easy to wear burkhas. How to get rid of them?
Matthew replied: Haha. Simple. Toilet. U first go and get rid of it. N wait outside of station. I'll join u.
She went to the toilet. On the station, ladies toilet and gents toilet, both were nearby. Only separated by a wall. And the wall was not that tall. A six feet tall man could crane over it. And the condition of the unhygienic toilet. It would be better if she did not look down. Two Banyan trees in front of it were blocking the view off the toilet. She threw her burkha into the ladies toilet and almost ran for the outside of the station. Not even looking back at the way she had come to the toilet.
Reaching the front of the small station she was in a dilemma: whether to wait for Matthew or not. Why wait for him? Who is he to me? – But I have to pay him. – He would not miss a thousand bucks. – But we had a deal. – Come on, be strong. – But it will be cheating. I have promised him to wait for him here. And give him money. – Deal then. Give him money and go separate way. – Yes, I will say thanks to him for helping me and saving me from police and pay him and go away. Done. – But he is very confident that I will wait for him outside the station. Why? – Perhaps, he is a simple believer. – No, he seems to read your thoughts and have some mastery over you. – That is a lie. I will never let a boy master me. I will never. This can never happen.
One tea stall and a small hotel were before the station. Though no one was around the station, she was feeling unsafe around here. So she quickly entered the hotel and sat on a chair, yet staring at the station. The hotel owner sitting at the corner seemed happy to find a customer in such an untimely hour. There was another man, working in another room. The owner called a helper named Banka to see to the customer (Veronica). A short limping man came out of the room behind the entry room. He looked at Veronica eagerly. She said, "Just wait. My friend is coming." Banka slid back to the back room. Matthew appeared at the front of the station. She called him and informed to come straight to the hotel in front of the station. He reached and adjusted on a chair. Then again Banka reappeared before them. Matthew ordered two plates of noodles and fish.
Veronica asked, "You are going to eat heavy in the morning?"
Matthew said, "Not only me, you too. Eat. We don't have a concrete plan yet on what to do next."
"What to do next," said she smiling. "We separate. You go to your place. I go to mine. – And thanks for all your support. Not everything you did I can pay for. But I can pay for your bills and some extra."