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Sunday, 10th March, 03:32.
Inside a the train, standing on Faridabad Station, Haryana.

........

A few countable minutes of slight hustle, upheaval and noise before passengers settled in carefully and the locomotive operator decided to speed up the engine, once again. The train left behind the railway station of Haryana, which was rather peaceful since it was still wee hours.

As minutes passed by, the train came to it's usual speed once again. The operator seemed to be in no hurry anymore, he definitely knew the train would be on time.

Super fast Dakshin Express was running on the track, tearing the strong blow of wind, which were colder at night and also according to how the climate was being changed with the each village, town, city and state that the train has crossed while rapidly moving into another part of the country. India, the Country of diversifications. Where, there's unity in diversity.

Almost all windows of sleeper classes were close. Millions of stones which were scattered around track, did their best to keep the track on right place. As the train passed, it made them dodder from their place which made noise but the noise was suppressed by the train.

Hundreds of huge, strong, iron wheels, which were bearing the weight of the train as well as weight of the travellers, were making a rhythmical noise as they rolled successfully on the track, which was also made of iron. Only unrhymed noise that the wheels and the track created were when the wheels rolled over the joints of the track, unevenly.

Though, that didn't make any disturbance in the travellers' chores, which mostly was sleeping, except teenagers and adults, who were lost in their phone screens. A continuous, rhythmic voice or jolt won't disturb someone as much as a sudden one does and now they were even habituated of it, since last twenty eight hours. So, people continued with their respective chores.

However, very unusual for the small world around him, Raihaan Sheikh was wide awake. He was no less than Kumbhkarna, when it comes to slumber, but tonight, he was awake. Miraculously.

He didn't sleep tonight, maybe because he was scared of sleeping till the train would gladly decide to take him back to Hyderabad. To his very unwanted destination. Though, he was sure, The ticket examiner won't let him travel without a ticket and would feel immense pleasure to through him out of the door. The door was even fine, but he won't want to be thrown away from the emergency window, not at all. His giant self would have to get squeezed. He differently thought about that. He also, imagined how he could get bumped into a track side electric pole, like cartoons or movies. So, apparently staying awake and beware was a better option for him.

He kept staring on everything, or nothing in particular while his mind was very busy in thinking, that also he was doing only after getting tired of playing candy crush. Currently the bushes and trees, had taken his attention, from outside of train. He stared and tried to count them, but failed because of the speed and darkness.

He remembered traveling with his parents as a child, when he would always get a window seat for himself. Jumping and shooting questions at them, he would count passing vehicles, men or trees with red and white lines on their trunk. He would tell how many total trees crossed till when they reached the destination.

While recalling about his family, his Dadi wasn't someone whom he could forget. Never. She was his favourite and he was her. Dadi have been a huge part of his thirty years of life. Everything what he thinks and does, connects him to her, directly. His whole personality reflects her.

Being her only grandson, Raihaan was expected to be and to do everything she wishes for and he was more than happiest to do so. She made sure, he gets the best upbringing. He should be smart, intelligent, soft spoken, lovable religious and everything else that would turn him into a perfect young man. Handsome, he was by birth. That too was given by parents and grandparents, undoubtedly. She also left no stone unturned to polish his talents and creativity.

She gave him a good mental and physical health too. Even his own mother would worry and care about his father and him equally, but Dadi's all love, care and attention revolves around him. Only him.

Raihaan had breakfast? Raihaan had lunch? He had dinner? He was getting to hear this from childhood. Even when Dadi would be sick, unconscious, she would murmur 'Raihaan, have dinner!', 'Eat infront of me!' and 'Have water after meal!' she worries for everything tiny and big.

She would check on him at two ante meridian too, to see if he was covered properly with blanket, if the air conditioner was working on right temperature. If there's his favourite chicken in dinner, she would even make sure he should get all the leg pieces. If he would be late from work, she would make sure enough amount of food was kept safe for him before anyone starts eating.

Of course, people get irritated sometimes, for her overprotective nature towards him, they even feel jealous. His own father does, which is only funny. He knows how much she loves him.

And he won't have any problems in fulfilling her wishes. But this time, a bit late maybe. He had wished for that only.

He chuckled lightly. No doubt he felt bad for Abbu, Ammi and Dadi. But, it's the matter of sometimes, everything would be fine. Still, he felt guilty. Very guilty. He was also scared for what would they do if they came to know about his stunts.

A nasal voice disturbed his thoughts in a bad manner. His new found uncle's snoring was way too loud to suppress by the train, and adjacent compartments would also be filled with it. He wondered why everyone is still sleeping carelessly, maybe because their destination is train's last stoppage as well.

He now stared at the sleeping lady Infront of his eyes, in the dim light coming from the gallery, from the upper and lower part of the spread curtains. She was covered with blanket till her neck. Few of her black hair were spread on her wheaty coloured forehead and beside the ears.

"Grave, grave, very grave. She looks as grave, as a grave....And I'm dying to know more about her!"

Raihaan pressed the send icon to send the text message to his best friend, who surely must be sleeping like a log at this very minute. Though, that wasn't a problem at all, he would get a reply as soon as his dearest friend decides to leave the bed. But, maybe, that would be very late, this time!

How could she sleep so peacefully now, suddenly? When the time is almost nearing and when there are so many sources of disturbance. He hadn't seen her this peaceful ever since she got into train. She seemed very careful, causious, worried and serious.

Undoubtedly she would be. After what she has to go through!

He found himself curious, which wasn't so like him.

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I wanted to finish this train journey with this chapter, but I'm tired of typing since few paragraphs each day.

Can't wait to be alright and do my works without any difficulty.

Boring chapter?

Don't worry, story has some shocks / surprises in store, for you!(◕ᴗ◕✿)

Love Yourself!(◍•ᴗ•◍)✧*。