The Station That Shouldn't Exist
The air at 6:00 AM wasn't just cold; it was heavy. It felt like the darkness was pressing against us, refusing to let the morning start. We stood there, shivering, because in this part of the world, winter is the only season that shows its true face. We were leaving the city behind—the "Detroit of India"—and heading deep into the Himalayan hills. It felt less like a trip and more like a journey into a silence no one dares to talk about.
**Sia** pulled her sleeves , glancing at her watch for the third time in a minute. "Hey, what time do you think the train will actually be here?"
"Oh, it’s nothing," **Mira** replied, her eyes scanning the empty tracks. "Usually it arrives at 6:00, but it's just late today".
**Avani** took a slow sip of her coffee, looking toward **Mira**. "Maybe there’s a reason for that." She hummed in surprise. "Actually, this filter coffee is good".
**Mira** turned, her brow furrowing. "Where did you even get that? This station doesn't have a shop".
"Oh!" **Avani** chirped, pointing toward the dark entrance. "There was a vendor right outside the station. Is it quite strange?".
**Sia’s** face went serious instantly. "Outside the station? That *is* strange".
"What’s so strange about it?" **Avani** asked, sounding defensive. "It seems normal for India".
**Mira** took a step back, her shoulder hitting the rough, cold station wall. "It’s not normal for *this* station, Avani. It was boycotted ages ago. The government only compensates the workers half of what they do on other railways... that’s why the whole place looks like it’s rotting".
**Sia** nodded, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Among the general population, only about 30,000 people even use this express. They decided to shut it down because so few people like us still use it. But even after the boycott, the train still runs directly to the Himalayas".
**Avani** shivered. "And the fact that we are still traveling on this! Ah!"
She turned suddenly to adjust her bag and collided right into a woman who seemed to appear out of the fog.
The woman was wearing an expensive fur coat and carrying a designer handbag, but she was breathing heavily, her chest heaving as if she’d been running for miles. Even in her expensive heels, she looked like she was escaping something.
"Oh! I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there," **Avani** stammered, her eyes wide with shock.
**Mira** stepped in front of her sister immediately. "I’m sorry on her behalf," she said firmly, then turned a sharp look to **Avani**. "You should be more careful".
The woman didn't look angry. She smiled but her eyes dripping with some kind of sadness —a soft, buttery smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She reached out and let her hand linger on **Mira’s** arm, as if she were drying her palm against Mira’s jacket.
"No worries," the woman said, her voice unnervingly sweet. "It’s alright... you can’t see in the dark anyway. All you need is light and a bridge".
She paused, her gaze shifting between them. "Anyway... are you two together?"
**Mira** felt a chill that had nothing to do with the winter air. The woman’s hand was still resting on her arm, and her eyes were searching theirs, looking for something she hadn't found yet.
Before **Mira** could answer, a low, metallic groan echoed from the distance. The train was coming, but it didn't sound like a normal engine. It sounded like a warning.
**Mira** ,"Actually three of us (pointing towards Sia who's busy on call with her parents ).
**Woman** "oh! Three sisters together huh? Must be nice far better than me."
Mira seems confused at her comment want to ask but Sia interrupts "What's going on ?"
**Mira** "Oh! Nothing just Avani bumped into ma'am (pointing towards woman )", **Sia** "Ohh I see, sorry, our lil sister is just too naughty."
The train finally stop at station ,**Mira** ,"Hey, Sia, Avani start loading luggage , Ma'am what's your compartment ?
**Woman** in rush,"Mine is business class, actually it"s kinda surprising even this kind of train has business class."
**Sia** while loading luggage, "it is actually, are you traveling alone?"
**Woman** pause for a second as she sallow her sadness but she smile again,"Yes! i am alone but we will meet alright, come to business class compartment to meet me during journey, I will visit you as well , as the journey is long, bye little girl (to Avani). Travel safely (to Mira and Sia)."
Three sister wave at her and woman disappear.
**Avani** sign," She seems like a good person" **Mira** cuts Avani in middle,"But something feel quiet off", Sia agrees with Mira. **Mira**, "her smile don't quite match her eyes, anyways let's go inside and settle down on our seat."
And the journey begins!
