Hey readers, here's the third update for the week.❤

Third Person POV:

"Chai, coffee, chai, coffee -" Amidst the cacophony of hawkers, the blaring announcement through the mikes, nothing can be understood. Whoever is making the announcements has a gruff voice, which sounds unclear to Abeer Singh.

Although he tries, directing his full attention to the mikes, everything sounds so much unclear.

It's 2019, anyone barely ever depends on the announcements. Although not technologically advanced, Mr Singh knew enough to carry himself in the 21st century. After all his daughter is a doctor, he has it on himself to be at par.

He sighs as his mind reverts back to the predicaments his daughter is facing. His wife is worried sick for their daughter.

" You, I told you! I told you to not let her go. She could have been here, saving all the lives she wanted. But you, people never listen to me! I don't exist in this house. Daughter's a doctor and the father's blind." His wife cried as she sat on the sofa dejected, " God knows where she is, how she is. My little daughter." His wife cried hugging his chest as her tears soaked his shirt.

It was his first seeing his wife who was always confident and two steps ahead, break down like that. His wife hadn't even cried the day she parted from her parents after their marriage. She was always understanding, lively, never wasting tears on anything. He had always respected her, for her attitude. It pained him to see his wife broken to the extent of tears.

" We have to be strong Tara, we can't break down. They said they will bring her back. Believe in your Ma Kali, she will not let her daughter get hurt." He had soothed his wife often saying sweet nothings into her ear until she fell asleep. But somewhere deep within him he knew not even Ma Kali could save Nehali where she was. It was her fate that took her there and it's fate that will bring her back. He only hoped his daughter would fight well like a warrior.

He prays fervently everyday. There is no news of Nehali. Today he is going to Kolkata where they have left some of their documents and other necessities that can't be just parceled. His wife is a Bengali and he a Punjabi. After marriage they settled in Punjab or to be exact Amritsar. Hence, Nehali grew up with both cultures, but had her roots deeply instilled in Bengali culture much due to his wife, Nayantara.

The grim fate settles upon his shoulders as his brows pucker. He can't remember the last time he had smiled. Maybe the day Nehali went to her camp. As a father he had dreamed of his daughter climbing heights unlike the women of her age busy marrying and increasing India's already enlarged population. He wanted his daughter to have wings many didn't, and he made sure she got it all.

His daughter guided by her mother was immensely responsible so much he never got a chance to scold her. He could never be the parent worrying for his child until today. And he so wished he hadn't ever. He peers into his android checking the time for the arrival of his train.

Platform 6

Amritsar Howrah Express 19029

Arrival time: 10:05 am

Departure: 10:35 am

It's 10:00 now, so five minutes to go. But again seeing that it's Indian Railways he is talking about, it might not be that early. It's gonna be late for another two hours or so.

How fervently he wishes it isn't so, as he wants to get done with the job.

'Passengers pay attention! Train number 19029, Howrah Amritsar Express will be coming on Platform no 9.' This time the announcement is clear and he is thankful for it.

Most of the passengers who have been waiting for the same train on Platform 6 look confused before all of them rush to the subways leading to platform number 9.

Abeer peers into his android checking the platform has indeed changed to 9. One can never be sure with Indian Railways, but he is thankful he didn't have to wait anymore.

He made his way to the subways, his ticket in hand and his not so bulky bag slinging from his other arm. He just packed a few necessities that he would need for he has a return flight booked for the very next day.

Abeer makes his way to the AC compartments side of the train searching for his compartment number.

2B.

Getting in, he immediately finds his seat. It is on the uppermost bunk. He puts his bag up there as he settles himself on his seat.

The train is due to leave in 30 minutes.

Mindlessly he watches people come in for the next 30 minutes. Once a police strides by checking the compartments.

'Do not touch anything suspicious. If found so, report the authorities.' The familiar announcement rings. It is so familiar that he can make out the words despite the cacophony of the passengers and hawkers. What he finds unusual is the huge security in Amritsar Station around this time. There's fairly large security everytime, but this time it was far more and they seemed to be in a hurry.

It is just 2 minutes left for the train to leave. Giving a cursory nod to a fellow passenger, he

makes his way to the doors. He takes out a cigarette holding it between his lips before lighting it. As he takes a swig of it, the nicotine makes its way down his nostrils to his bloodstream to his cholinergic receptors releasing enough serotonin to lift up his mood. He isn't a chain smoker but he smokes occasionally and these days a bit too much, a way to receive all the burden he feels. The train honks signalling its departure. As it gradually speeds up, slowly departing from the station when he sees a man running towards him, his hands outstretched holding a bag.

Abeer feels responsible, immediately as he extends his hand but could not catch his hand. Irritated he threw his cigarette, now holding the rod firmly as he leaned forwards extending his hand to the man.

This time he catches the bag the man has been carrying, immediately turning to throw the bag on the train compartment. As he turns back to haul the man back in, he is surprised to see the man slowing down, a toothy smile on his face as he waves back at him.

Shocked, the previous announcement runs through his mind as he looks at the bag now uncertain and curious. He immediately runs to it, opening the chain to reveal his worst nightmare.

00:02

00:01

He closes his eyes for the split second, the faces of his daughter and wife flashing in front of his eyes. How desperately he wishes in that split second he had never come up to smoke, as a stray tear rolls down his cheek.

00:00

The explosive bursts, flames tearing through his skin, burning the last remnants of his identity, leaving nothing behind. A split second of shrill cries sounds before everyone on that Amritsar Howrah Express meets the same fate as him, lost into oblivion.

Author's Note:

If this chapter broke your heart, I apologize. But this chapter will bring a significant turn to this story.

Just remember my dear readers, thousands have died and will die in these kinds of meaningless massacre. It's you and I who can bring the change. Youth being provocated into terrorism is one of the most concerning cases the world is facing today. Issues like this go unrecognized most of the times, but it's high time we speak up.

Don't forget to vote and comment.(❁'◡'❁). Stay safe.