Author's pov

Around 2:30 am in a full moon night the Shimla station was whole empty besides some 3 or 4 people who were sleeping on the floor and a stall which was open but the owner was also sleeping.

Ritika rushed out as the train stopped. She quickly took her belongings and ran towards the stairs, in while checking her phone. The sound of her heals was the  only sound which was echoing in the whole platform, which was awfully silent. Her head shot up as she heard the announcement.

"Yaatri gan kripya dhyan de, Shimla se Dalhousie jaane wali train platform kramank 2 per aa chuki hai, dhanyawaad."

As the announcement sinked in her mind she realised that she was still at platform 4, her eyes widened in the realisation, her hands went in her forehead and she gasped hard.

"Damn Ritika, you are so late hurry up otherwise the train will leave you alone here only!",she muttered to herself while moving quickly forward.

She was walking (running) on the foot over bridge. As the 2nd platform came, she peeked down for seeing the train. There was standing the ever so calm train. She stopped at her place only to thank God, A relieved sigh left from her lips as she looked up smiling. But the happiness was short lived only, because once again there was an announcement.

"Yatri gan kripya dhayan de, Shimla se Dalhousie Jane wali train jald hi platform kramank 2 se ravana hogi, dhanyawaad."

Listening to the announcement she quickly grabbed her belongings and ran down to the stairs, muttering somthing like "Please God,"

The train was same like the station empty, there were some passengers only who were sleeping soundly.

Reaching to the train she quickly put her luggage on the train entrance and entered quickly in the train, as she entered in the train she was processing all this in and in mean time train started making her balance fate a little.

As the train started slowly, she took a long breath to calm her heart as it was pounding in her chest very hard because of running,she placed her hand on her chest, she looked up again a smile tugging her lips now saying thank you to the God.

The cool breeze hit her face, offering momentary relief. As she stood there, calming herself, she heard faint shouts. She turned her head to see a young man running toward the train, his duffle bag slung across his shoulder, his face determined yet slightly panicked.

“Wait!” he called out, waving one hand.

Without hesitation and without fully thinking, Ritika stretched out her hand toward him. “Come on, jaldi!” she shouted.

The man pushed himself harder, and with a final jump, he grabbed her hand. Their hands clasped tightly, and Ritika pulled with all her strength, helping him onto the train. He stumbled slightly as his feet found balance inside, his breathing labored from the effort.

“Whoa,” he panted, bending slightly with his hands on his knees. “That… that was close. Thanks... seriously, thank you!”

Ritika’s chest heaved slightly as she stared at him. For a moment, she was too stunned to respond, her mind processing what had just happened. Then, as if brushing off the incident like an errant piece of lint, she turned on her heel and walked toward her seat.

The train was nearly empty. There were only a few passengers scattered on the other side of the carriage, most of them already asleep. Ritika settled into her assigned seat by the window, pulling out a book from her bag. She flipped it open and began reading as if nothing had happened.

The young man followed her down the aisle, his breath evening out as he slung his bag over his shoulder. To her surprise — and mild irritation — he sat in the seat right next to hers.

Ritika’s eyes flicked up from her book briefly to glance at him, but she said nothing.

The man broke the silence. “Hi,” he said, his voice cheerful despite his recent dash. “I’m Rohit.”

Ritika glanced at him again, her expression calm and composed. She extended her hand briefly for a handshake. “Ritika.”

Her tone was polite, but her attention returned to her book almost immediately.

Rohit didn’t seem fazed. “Thanks again, you know, for saving my life back there.”

“You’re welcome,” she replied without looking up.

“You have no idea how important this train is for me,” he added.

“I can imagine,” Ritika murmured, flipping a page.

He chuckled softly, leaning back in his seat. “You’re not much of a talker, huh?”

Ritika finally looked up, one eyebrow raised. “Why? Do I need to be?”

Rohit grinned, unfazed by her sharp tone. “No, no. Just making an observation. You seem... focused.”

“I am,” she said curtly, then added after a pause, “I’m reading.”

“Right, of course,” he said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “Well, thanks again, Ritika. That hand of yours has got some serious strength.”

She ignored his attempt at humor and returned to her book, but he didn’t seem to mind the lack of response.

“You’re welcome,” she said, trying to return to her book.

But Rohit wasn’t done yet. With a cheeky smile, he leaned closer. “Waise....Tum bachpan mein hi paida ho gayi thi kya?”

Ritika froze mid-page, her head snapping up. “Ye bohot kharab tarika hai, baatein chalu karne ka!”

“Per main toh flirt kar raha tha?” Rohit said with a mock-innocent shrug.

Her expression turned incredulous. “What—”

She looked up to look at his face, and she saw him giving smile with little smugness on his face. She gritted her teeths in anger and turned her attention again to the book, cause she knew if she'll say something, he'll irritate her more, not before muttering 'Idiot'.

For a while, silence settled between them, broken only by the occasional clatter of the train and the soft snores of the other passengers.

Rohit eventually leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, though a small smile played on his lips. Ritika sneaked a glance at him from the corner of her eye.

He had a certain liveliness about him, something she wasn’t used to. It wasn’t annoying, exactly, but it was… different.

With a small shake of her head, she dismissed the thought and returned to her book.

Unbeknownst to her, Rohit was thinking the same thing. As the train rumbled on toward Dalhousie, he found himself intrigued by the grumpy, no-nonsense girl who had just saved him from missing his ride.

First chapter ✓
Be ready for the upcoming chaos.......

Also I have kept target for this book

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Thanks for reading...

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