The Sachkhand Express has left Agra, rolling steadily towards its destination. In the 2nd AC compartment, Sunny sat quietly, occasionally stealing glances at the girl seated across from him. He usually wasn't the type to notice strangers this way, but something about her presence was different. It was the first time in nine years that his heart fluttered like this.
The girl, seemingly lost in the view outside, soon dozed off. Sunny found himself captivated by her peaceful expression. His thoughts wandered, filled with gentle musings rather than anything untoward. Was this a sign of something real, or just another fleeting infatuation? Sunny chose not to overanalyze and, lulled by the rhythm of the train, soon drifted into sleep himself.
When he awoke, the train was pulling into Mathura, the sacred city connected to the rich history of Lord Krishna. The ancient vibe of the place filled Sunny with a peculiar sense of calm, almost as though he were under divine protection. Returning to the present, he noticed the girl was still asleep. A strand of hair had fallen across her forehead, and without thinking, he leaned forward to brush it aside.
Unconsciously, he murmured, "Who are you?"
Before he could process what he'd done, the loud voice of the tea vendor pierced the moment, "Aree Chaiiii, Chaiiii!!" [Chai = Tea] Startled and flustered, Sunny quickly sat back, attempting to regain his composure. The girl woke up, her sleepy eyes scanning her surroundings.
"Umm... Excuse me! One chai... p*lease," she said, addressing the vendor.
The vendor, taken aback by her accent, handed her a small cup of tea. "₹10," he said, smiling.
Sunny also ordered a cup, and as they sipped, the girl took a small taste and beamed. "Wow! It is tas*ty!" she exclaimed with childlike delight.
Sunny tried to stifle his laughter, covering his mouth with his hand. The girl noticed and frowned. "What*? Why are you l*aughing?"
Sunny couldn't hold it in. "Haha... You... tas*ty! Haha... not tasty, but tas*ty?" he teased, realizing her accent revealed she was Japanese.
The girl flushed red, both embarrassed and annoyed. "You! I did not* know peop*le l*ike you existed—making fun of guest*s in your count*ry!"
Sunny apologized amidst his chuckles. "I'm sorry, really. It's just... your accent is adorable."
"Hmph! I'll forgive you, but I won't forget it!" she retorted, her face still flushed as she took another sip of tea.
Sunny, now calmer, finished his tea quickly. The girl, watching in disbelief, exclaimed, "You... you drank it thato fasto!"
He grinned. "Well, that's pretty normal for an Indian."
"Seriousry? Are arr Indians thato fasto?" she asked, wide-eyed.
"No, no, just me," Sunny replied with a smirk, making her roll her eyes.
Looking out the window, the girl asked, "What station is this?"
Sunny's face lit up with pride. "Mathura! It's a sacred city with a rich history connected to Lord Krishna." He went on to share stories about the city, its spiritual significance, and its role in Indian mythology.
The girl listened intently, her earlier annoyance replaced by curiosity and admiration. They chatted for almost 15 minutes until another girl interrupted them, speaking in Japanese:
"ねえ,ミサちゃん! 大丈夫? 電車は予定時刻を過ぎてもうここにいるよ."
Sunny understood one thing from the exchange—the girl's name was Misaki. As the two conversed, he decided to give them space, excusing himself to get some fresh air at the station.
Sitting on a bench near the train, Sunny watched the hustle and bustle of Mathura station. His gaze wandered back to his seat, where Misaki was laughing with her friend. As he looked at her through the window, a smile crept onto his face, but it didn't go unnoticed.
A passing transgender individual caught him smiling. Not knowing that Sunny was smiling at the girls, misinterpreting his expression as creepy. The transgender person thought that he was smiling at him/her/they? They looked at him with suspicion, making Sunny realize how it appeared. Panicking, he stood to explain but only made things worse. Completely showing her/his/their? hostility, disdain, anger and looking down on Sunny, they said "Pathetic!!" Feeling utterly embarrassed, he slumped back onto the bench, his spirits deflated, as the transgender individual left that place in a foul and misunderstood mood.
Sunny's phone rang. It was Mohit.
"Hello?" Sunny answered in a low, defeated tone.
"What's wrong, bro? Why do you sound so down?" Mohit asked.
Sunny recounted the entire incident, from his interaction with Misaki to his mishap at the station. Mohit burst into laughter. "Haha! Sunny, I told you, your smile is killer—literally! It almost got you killed, man!"
Sunny groaned, half-annoyed, half-amused. "Shut up, Mohit."
They bickered for a while exchanging blows of words with each other. Cussing each other while laughing. Then, they both took a deep breath and started conversing seriously. Sunny talked about his feelings seriously, expecting some insights from Mohit. Even though None of Them had ever been in a relationship. Still being the boys they are, Mohit listened to Sunny carefully. After listening and thinking through his thoughts Mohit relied to Sunny. Not breaking his expectations Mohit gave Sunny a firm and the best answer he could hope and Mohit give.
"Listen, bro," Mohit said, his tone more serious. "If you're feeling something for this girl, just go with it. Don't overthink."
Reassured, Sunny ended the call. He got up and boarded the train as the departure announcement rang out. Still standing at the train's door looking at the Mathura station feeling the hand of his god in the wind he prayed. He prayed for a miracle that will make him break the shackles that have been binding him from as long as he can remember. He closes the door and starts going back to his seat through the compartment corridor.
To be continued...
(Hey guys! Thank you for reading and showing your support. I've added certain contents to today's chapter that might....okay..will, probably offend some people's feelings. And I'm reallllyyy SORYY!! But please understand it's just for fun and NOT to make fun. I support you all equally though You might not support me!)