Hi, I'm Ruchika Awasthi from Kanpur waiting for my train to Delhi which will soon be arriving on Platform no 3 at 8 p.m. I am a simple housewife who has been married for 7 years to the love of her life which has now become a pain.
So much has changed between us. We fight a lot more now on small issues, there is no proper communication, we don't cuddle anymore, neither we watch movies together nor go out for dinners.
Life was never like this before, he used to keep me like a queen!
I still remember when we were in college, we were little love birds always holding hands and busy in our little world.
But it's all a past now!
I came to Delhi with him to visit his mother, who hates me like hell.
He on the other side, does not support me and always takes his mother's side.
We had a huge fight in his parent's house and I decided to leave and quit this stupid marriage forever!
Squashing your dreams, giving up on your career and living like an educated maid is utter nonsense. Men only talk about money. I guess that is why even the initial letter 'M' is also the same!
We women, on the other side, always think about men and that is why even the word' women' has 'men' in it.
I guess it's enough!!
I have handled enough and can't deal anymore!
It's time for me to move on and follow my heart, dreams and passion!
Once I return, I will file a divorce and get rid of him forever!!!
I'm waiting for my train at the station which is 2 hrs late as per the latest announcement.
Finally, I'm able to feel some peace.
I started to enjoy my own company, when suddenly a voice disturbed my ears,
"Hey Ma'am, is this seat taken?"
I looked at him in surprise and replied," It's a bench Mr!"
He laughed and asked again,
"Yes indeed!
So if you don't mind, can I please be seated here?"
Why on earth any man cannot see a woman living in freedom, happiness and peace?
I made a disinterested face and nodded in yes.
He sat, though not very close but still I felt a bit discomfort and so eventually picked up my luggage and got up from there.
I walked a mile at the station looking for another place to be seated and also for a magazine shop to pass my time.
I was lucky enough to soon find both. I hurriedly kept my luggage on another bench and stood at the shop to buy some filmy magazines.
The shopkeeper was making tea and kept snacks like chips, sandwiches, samosas and biscuits in his shop.
I asked the shopkeeper,
"Hello, can I please get one ginger tea with a samosa?"
He looked at me as if I had disturbed an IAS officer in his meeting with Ministers!
He gave me a harsh look and without any response, took one samosa from his tray and gave it to me on paper.
Then he continued with his tea, signaling me that soon my tea will be served.
I then, started looking for my favorite magazine when a familiar voice disturbed me again,
"Hello Ma'am, eating samosa?"
I turned and was devasted to see him again. I ignored his statement, took my samosa and magazine, paid the amount and went to my bench to enjoy my food.
As I sat, the same man came again and sat beside me without permission, before I could say anything, he said,
"You left your tea there in hurry, here it is!"
He gave me the tea and my anger evaporated in seconds as his helping gestures got silently acknowledged by me.
I took it but did not smile as it could him give wrong signals.
I sipped my tea and got refreshed at instantly.
The ginger put was amazingly fresh and the tea does wonders to my mood as soon as it sinks down my throat.
I closed my eyes to feel the pleasure of its taste and aroma when he again disturbed me and said,
"So where are you going?"
I've had enough and so I decided to finally answer and replied,
"Listen Mr. thank you for the tea but I want some personal space now, so please if you don't mind, just leave me alone."
My answer had no affect on him and he continued,
"By the way,
I'm Sachin Shukla and you?"
I gave him a serious glance and replied,
"I'm not interested."
He smiled and took the ticket out of my purse that was slightly open and visible because of my broken chain.
He checked the details and asked,
"So you're going to Delhi too?"
I snatched my ticket from his hands and replied,
"It's none of your business."
I instantly got up, took my luggage and started to walk away from him.
The train had only half an hour left to arrive so I gathered myself up, checked my ticket details got ready to catch my train on time.
As the train arrived, a crowd gathered all over the station. People hustled and pushed each other away to make spaces for themselves. It became difficult to find a way when suddenly a hand reached for my luggage,
He picked it up and said,
"Run or you will miss your train!"
He was the same man but his help could not be rejected at the moment. I obeyed his words and ran as fast as I could with him.
We ran together and soon he found my boogie and said loudly,
"Here it is, GO inside immediately!!!!"
I did at once what he told and went inside the train.
He ran with all my luggage and his. The sweat on him melted my heart as he was sweet enough to help a woman in need. After me, he too jumped in with all our bags and said,
"Aaah finally, we got it!"
We came inside and started looking for our seats. Mine was B22 and I looked for it as we walked along inside the train. Soon my seat came and he said,
"Here, your seat, B22."
I got shocked and asked,
"How you knew my seat number?"
He smiled and replied,
"I checked it, when took the tickets out from your purse at the station."
He then placed my bags underneath my birth and said with a smile,
"All is set now."
I looked at him and asked,
"What is your seat no."
He smiled and showed me his tickets,
"It wrote B23"
I smiled as he put his luggage too and said,
"The JOURNEY BEGINS NOW!!!"
The train moved and he seated in front of my birth to have a conversation. He had got water bottles which he drank and gave the other to me. I drank it as I was extremely thirsty and said,
"Thank you so much for everything."
He smiled and replied,
"No problem, it's my pleasure!"
I smiled and asked,
" So why are you going to Delhi?"
He replied, "I work there."
I nodded and then kept silent. After few seconds, he asked,
"By the way, you looked very upset and angry at the station!
May I know, why?"
I somehow didn't like the direct question but it had been days when someone asked me for my feelings and mood, so I replied,
"It's just I'm stuck in an unhappy marriage and want to leave my husband now."
The man got shocked to hear this and asked,
"But why?"
I replied,
"Well, it's a long story, we were college sweethearts and had a love marriage.
Now, love has evaporated in the air and only marriage is left!
My husband has changed a lot with time. He doesn't love me anymore and gives me no time.
He is always talking about money and career.
He fights with me all the time and blames me for everything that goes wrong in his life."
The man listened and said,
"Oh! that's sad."
We both then didn't speak with each other for another half an hour and soon a man came with trays of food. He gave one plate to me and the other to him.
It had roti, rice, vegetable, dal, curd and pickle. We both ate and the food tasted delicious.
After a while, I asked,
"So what about you?'"
The man said,
"I too was in love with a girl!
Nothing special in my case though,
I'm a doctor by profession and always stuck in usual work and routine, so she left me."
We had nothing more to say, so we both opened our mobile screens and started watching some reels on youtube.
The train now took great speed and it was already midnight.
After doing my screen time, I went off to sleep.
As the night went darker, the temperature of the train started to decrease. It was rather cold when I felt a hand on my breast. I quickly opened my eyes and saw the same man in front of me. Before I could utter a word, he said softly in my ears, "You look beautiful."
His voice melted like sugar in my ears and resisting his hot body was now out of my control.
He came close to my lips and kissed me. I felt amazing as I had not felt like this for years.
We soon started smooching each other and I felt his touch all over my body. He put his hand in my hair and kissed on my neck. Eventually, he removed all his clothes and undressed me too.
He continued kissing me and soon we got into physical intimacy
Everything was so passionate that my heart started to beat which matched the speed of the train!
He was so romantic and his touches were irresistible. He reminded me of my early college dating days when me and my husband were in love.
I wanted to be in his arms forever!!!!
We were completely into each other, when suddenly we heard a noise.
We quickly dressed ourselves back, went on to our respective seats.
After a second, he went outside and checked.
There was an old man, struggling to find the washroom. He quickly helped him and came back.
He then took out a chocolate from his bag and offered me to eat. I had fun after a very long time and this was surely was, the best night ever!
It was still 4:30 in the morning but we were awake already,
He looked at me and said,
"Would you really leave youe husband?"
I kept quiet and didn't answer.
He understood my reluctance of not wanting to reply and asked again,
"I know women have desires and men fail to satisfy them at times."
I replied, " It's not only about desires!
It's also about emotional understanding, communication, patience and respect for one another that is necessary for a relationship."
The man replied,
"True, but men get trapped by responsibilities that takes over a relationship and we then somehow tend to neglect a woman's emotions and value."
I replied," Even men suffer a lot in marriage. Take my husband for example, I haven't seen him smile since ages."
He then asked,
"By the way, what do women expect from their partner?"
I smiled and said,
"Just the fact that we TRY!!!
We do really try hard."
Then I asked, "What do men expect?"
The man replied, "To never give up on us.".
Then I thought for a moment and asked,
"Both men and women deal with problems, so what is the solution?"
He smiled and said,
"Stay Connected Always."
These conversations made me think that this man was so lovable and understanding.
I kind of started liking him and wished the same from his side.
I then asked him,
"Do you reget anything?"
He replied, "I wish she coud have not gone."
I asked, "Do you still lover her?"
He replied, "Yes but now its all a past and life moves on!"
He asked me,
"Do you still love your husband?"
I replied, "Yes but life moves on. We meet other people, life gives chances and we get to start all over again."
He agreed as he looked into my eyes and I felt a warmth of affection.
It was now 6 in the morning and we were about to reach our respective destinations. As the station came,
we both boarded off from the train. He asked, "So can I drop you somewhere?"
I replied, "No, I don't want to bother you."
He said, "Not at all, it will be my pleasure!
So where do you live?"
I answered, "Sarita Vihar."
He said, "Great, I'm heading there only, give me the honour."
He booked a cab and we sat with our luggage. All the chats and night memories were getting flashed in my mind, I felt as if I was in love again but had no clue what he had in his heart.
Soon my house came and I got off from the cab with my luggage.
As I waked away, my heart started beating for him as if I had always loved him forever!
I wanted him to stop me and waited for him to call me but he didnt.
As soon as I reached my house gates, he shouted from the back,
"Hey Ruchika, I love you!"
I turned back with happiness, ran towards him and hugged him tightly.
He hugged me back, kissed on my forehead and said,
"I need a reply Ma'am."
I said with all joy,
"I love you too."
He then took out his bags from the cab, held my hand with a smile, opened the gates and we entered together in the house that had a golden nameplate that inscribed:
'Dr. Sachin Shukla
Mrs. Ruchika Awasthi Shukla'