Apoorva In Black

It felt unnatural for Apoorva and Daktar to just stay there for hours, with no purpose. Shreni was supposed to come way before Daktar, if she was really coming when Daktar saw her the last time.

"I'm sure they were coming here" said Daktar.

"But I don't see them now" replied Apoorva crossly.

They soon started to feel doubtful on Shreni's arrival. They hadn't much to debate on, to decide to go back to Shivadwar, in case they could find her and Mihira, as they were both waiting to propose the idea. It was just matter of minutes until Daktar and Apoorva were in one of the local trains to Shivadwar, which was on the first platform. The train set out swiftly. Daktar told Apoorva not to rethink of the decision made; it would just result in regret.

They stood close to the footboard of their car. Half of the journey was made, when there came a loud rumbling and screeching noise from the front of the train. It shook all the cars. Daktar almost fell out of the train. Then the train's velocity reduced slowly, until the train was stopped at last, several meters away from the Nallapuram station. They wondered why the train would stop there.

After a while, a bald and short man, walking along the length of the train, shouted, "Passengers must get down here and walk to the station!"

Daktar got down, followed by Apoorva. He called the short man.

"Excuse me, what has happened?" he asked.

"The train's engine broke down, sir. We're sorry but you must walk to the station" the man replied.

"Oh, just the thing we needed!" said Apoorva, irritated to her toe.

"What? How can a train break down?" Daktar asked, surprised.

"I'm sorry but it did, sir" replied the man.

They had nothing to do but to walk to the Nallapuram station along with the fellow passengers. Daktar muttered and Apoorva mumbled, as they walked to the station. There was an announcement, repeatedly running over the speakers, "Attention! Local Train no. 493173 has been removed from the schedule due to engine issue. Do not panic. Another train shall be arranged for you"

Apoorva and Daktar stood in silence. 'JUST WHY WOULD THIS HAPPEN NOW?'

"I think we shall neither reach Shivadwar anytime soon, nor can anyone find us here" said Apoorva, "Why did we not wait in Devanagari?"

* * *

Yugank and Viraj stood in a train which was moving towards Devanagari. Yugank was happy that they were going to meet at last; and Viraj was happy that he was going to find Mihira.

Yugank kept reciting that they were supposed to meet Shreni and Mihira in the station hall; as he would not trust Viraj for anything like that. He looked out of the window. Green crop fields expanded to infinity. Suddenly, an announcement came over the speakers of the train that it would not stop at Nallapuram. Everything was finally coming together. Several poles appeared beyond the window and then, the station of Nallapuram was seen.

Viraj saw groups of people on the first platform and then, a train was visible on the tracks. Viraj's smile flattened. He poked Yugank on the shoulder.

"Yes?"

"Was that Apoorva on the first platform?" asked Viraj, doubtfully.

"What?"

"Was that Apoorva in black?"

"In the station?"

"Yes"

"How can she be in Nallapuram?" Yugank twisted his eyebrows.

"I don't know. I feel like I saw her" said Viraj.

"Are you sure?"

"Not exactly" said Viraj coming out of the gloom. He thought for a moment, "No, it can't be her"

* * *

It was the one moment in the whole day that Shreni thanked Viraj for something. If he hadn't called her, he and Yugank would've been still lost.

The train reached Devanagari. Shreni and Mihira got down, as the powerful sun beamed down on them. They ran to the first platform and into the station hall. They looked around. Most of the chairs there were unseated; and certainly, Apoorva was not in the people who were seated. They started getting tensed again. They ran all over the station but haven't found Apoorva anywhere. Where could she be?

A train hooted in the first platform and Viraj and Yugank got out of it. They were received by Shreni and Mihira with a hug.

"Where's Daktar?" asked Yugank.

"We've searched for them, but they aren't anywhere"

"What?!"

"Are you sure you've searched the whole station?"

"We did"

They stood on the platform and thought for a moment. After a while, Viraj whispered to Yugank, "Do you think the one I saw in Nallapuram station was indeed Apoorva?"

Yugank yelled, "Oh! Yes! Yes, it might be Apoorva!"

"What happened?" Mihira asked. The girls were soon told of what happened in the train at Nallapuram. Enquiry was soon made, and the train to Nallapuram, which they were waiting for, arrived like a grand chariot.

* * *

The passengers were sent to the second platform, and among them were Apoorva and Daktar. They could be described as the most impatient among all of them. Several trains came and went. About fifteen minutes passed by, and a newly arranged train was ready on the tracks. The crowd was sucked in through the doors of the cars. Daktar was deciding whether to or not to enter the train. Then, he decided to. He walked towards one of the cars of the train. Apoorva entered the train and Daktar was about to step into it when he was caught by the collar and pulled out. It was the gang.

"You were here the whole time, Daktar?" asked Shreni.

Apoorva was still on the train as the train started moving. She immediately hopped down before the train sped off.

They were surprised to see each other gathered again. All of them burst into a thundering of words as they met.

"Where were you guys?"

"Guess you never wanted to find me so bad?"

"Where did you find Mihira?"

"You missed the train too?"

"I thought you would hit him hard, Daktar?"

"Already did"

"Daktar, here's your phone. I found it on the platform, here"

"Oh thank you, Shreni. I thought I lost it"

"You did"

"Here, Yugank, take your phone. And never give it to me again"

Everyone was tired, and they sat comfortably on a bench.

"Enough of the adventure, Viraj? Satisfaction? Feel of victory?"

"I do feel like we won, though"