Rail road and Tracks....

BETWEEN THEM
Part 37

She was not making any conversation.... She sat huddled up in the seat as far away as she could from him...

Leaning on the window... And gripping the seat belt...


Krish wished he had had the sense to go with her in the bus... She was feeling nervous within the car... alone with him... and too near....

The fact was that even he was feeling nervous... He hoped he drove better than he had ever driven before... Not worth taking a risk with her next to him...


Next to him.... The phrase sounded nice....

They were together... It sounded better.....



"So where?"

Shriya hesitated....

She did not want to ask him home that day.... Her house was in a mess... And ... Being in a car on the crowded city roads was bad enough and being in a home within four solid walls would be worse... Even if it was for a few minutes......


"Cantonment Station... My apartment is on the other side... A few avenues apart..."

"You want me to leave you there?"

"Yes...."

Her hand was aching by now... She hugged herself...

Krish noticed and was quiet.... He did not want to press her to allow him to leave her home.... She looked shaken enough already...


They reached sooner than he had hoped for... To her it seemed like the longest ride she had ever taken in her life....

He parked the car in the parking lot of the station...

She got out before he came round to help her...

"Thanks... I can go now..."

"No... Let me get you across to the station"

"Please... You have done a lot for me...," her voice sounded strained...

"No Shriya... Come along... " He walked on towards the station... She sighed aloud and followed him...


The station was almost deserted that afternoon.... Strange....

Few people were waiting on the long rows of benches....


She stopped... "Thanks a lot... I can really take care.... "

"You sure?... Shriya... You look...."

"I feel really healthy...." she forced a smile....

All he could notice were the beads of perspiration on her face and neck in that cold afternoon...


"Well..."

"Bye then...."

She was already walking across the tracks...

"Wait... take the over bridge.... And give me your mobile number... Hey!"


She was standing still in the middle of the track....

"Give me your number.... Shriya!"

He realized she had not heard him.... She was slowly collapsing down... right on the tracks...


He stood rooted.... It was like he was imagining it....

He wanted to move... To hold her... To help her up.....

And all that was springing up in his mind was the image of a lonely lost angel on a green Christmas tree....


Something pulled him out.... The sound of an approaching train....

He did not know how he moved... did not realize when he took that first step out of his reverie....

All he knew was that he should reach her before the train did....


He was there... Holding her... Cradling her form in his arms.....

The train passed by....


It was then that Krish realized that even if he had walked down and gently helped her up, he could have still saved her from the train....

It had been that far off....


She was regaining senses.... She looked up and it took sometime for her eyes to focus.....

She was saying something and he held her closer to hear what she was saying....

"Oh no!" she groaned "Oh no! Not you again.... Oh no!"