The Lost Train SCL-11

Chapter 1

He heard the sound. It went higher. And higher.

What the hell is that?

He remembered the alarm that he set. The sound peaked. He turned in the opposite direction, slowly releasing his breath. Trying to calm his mind and sleep. But failed. The sound produced an irritating frequency and he couldn't calm down.

Arjun growled in irritation with his eyes half opened. He ran his hand on the table randomly to find the alarm clock. The sound stopped as he pressed the top button. It was 5 am already. He knew he had to jump and get into action. He felt his bladder full.

Five more minutes.

No he couldn't bear it. In one shot he jumped from the bed and went to the bathroom. If it had been any other day, he could have returned from the bathroom and slept but it wasn't any other day. He realised the day and a sudden excitement widened his eyes. He turned on the lights before entering the bathroom.

He had always found it hard to wake up early. It was last night that he decided to change his habit of waking at 7.

Looking at himself in the mirror now, he regretted his decision of having six glasses of whiskey. He should have slept after two or three. Or maybe even without none.

It's my first day. Come on.

Waters splashed into the face. Again and again until he took a conscious breath.

Arjun had dreamt to be a Detective since when he was six years old. But It was after sixteenth birthday that he understood what it really takes to be a Detective. From that day he prepared himself both mentally and physically. Several academic tests. And a five kilometres run every evening.

Waking up early was one of the unaccomplished tasks of his life. Many times he had promised to himself that he would wake up early and breathe fresh air and meditate but he failed every time.

He switched off the lights and dried his face with the towel from the chair. Like always, he picked the newspaper lying on the floor under the door.

The newspaper boy would throw it inside through the small space below the door. Every day the first thing Arjun did was to read the headlines of the paper.

He rubbed his eyes in astonishment as he read the first page.

' THE MISSING TRAIN'

Date- 1st July 2021

The Scl 11 was starting it's journey after a rest of three months. It made it's journey from Chaparmukh with three coaches and five passengers. Our resources found that they were VIPs and were selected for the first trip of the train through the tunnel. The Hojai- Chandura tunnel was opened a few days back and SCl 11 was supposed to pass through it. It went inside the tunnel but never came out.

The tunnel was constructed during the 1857 revolution and was destroyed at World war 2 bombings. Since then it has been kept unused. But due to the increase in demand for faster and frequent transport. The government decided to have two rail connections between the hill station and Hojai…

The news woke him up more.

It is six already. I have to be there by seven.

He quickly bathed and dressed. The smile is still visible on his face. He had already pressed his dress for today since it was his birthday as well as his first day as a detective. He was 28 already. He would be getting his first assignment under the CBI deputy chief. He would report everything to him and that's it. No direct connections with other officials. He had just one wish.

He gave a last look at his identity card that he received two days back.

Government of India. Detective Arjun Sharma.

He read aloud twice. He pushed his mouth in a self satisfied smirk and locked his door from outside.

He had been very fascinated by murder cases. He had dreamt of solving a murder case when he gets the job.

"Har Har Mahadev! Get me a murder case. Please!"He closed his eyes, folded his hands and said.

Chapter 2

The evening sun reflected in the blade that he was holding. He rotated it in opposite directions looking for the angle when the reflection would hit his eyes. He stared at it. Tiny orange figure. Not spherical as he learnt in his drawing class. He raised his eyes to see the actual structure. The sun. It hung at one of the branches of the tree from the longleaf indian pine. A ball of fire hung on the leafless branch but didn't burn the tree.

He liked the corner of the forest more. The orange rays struck one half of some trees. He smiled as he recognised the shades of reds.

It may seem unusual for a six year old boy to handle knives but he did it easily. He stretched his lips apart to smirk as he saw his own image at the blade.

He had kept this knife without the knowledge of anyone. From the money that his grandmother gave him on her visit, he bought it. No questions were asked by his mother as to where he spent the money. They assumed that he might have saved it.

The window was wide open and he saw his grandfather sitting at his bed. The white beard covered his face. His white dhoti was cleant. He cross legged and chewed the pan.

The boy smiled when he saw him.

"Dadu, you came back?"

The old man returned the smile." Yes, baba. Now,you do what I asked you to."

The boy nodded and pulled his sleeves back. His left arm had five cut marks. The closest one to the wrist was new and had fresh platelets.

He scratched and picked the clots. A slight stimulation of the afferent neurons but he could bear the pain.

He held the blade. Licked it with tongue and made another cut just a milimimiter away from the last cut.

The second hand at the wall clock past 12. He started to count every second. After sixty seconds he ran the blade once again at the same spot. Cutting the skin deeper. He bled more. A big smile appeared as he stretched his lips and looked at his grandfather.

Sixty seconds passed again and he was about to make another cut when the door was pushed open. He forgot to lock it.

His mother saw him with the blade and ran to him with her wide eyes. She took the blade and threw it away shouting.

"What are you doing! Babu?". She pulled him out of the room.

The boy gave a last look at the bed where his grandfather sat. He wasn't there. He vanished like always.

"Sweety! Sweety! Bring the tulsi leaves and the antiseptic!". His mother shouted, pulling him in the corridor.

While passing the corridor he gave a final look at his grandfather's portrait that hung at the wall with flowers garland wrapped. And smiled.

Chapter 3

"Detective Arjun?"

The CBI deputy chief operated the detectives under them. The official CBI head chief contacted only the deputies.

"Yes, ma'am."

Indira Sharma was the CBI deputy chief who appointed Arjun. She had short hair. A line of gray hair went through the left temple. The ebony black eyes were clear through the lenses. Wrinkled scalp and the blush red lipstick added seriousness to her looks.

She had eight Detectives working under her instructions. Some were given real cases to solve and some were set behind them.

Arjun was called at her office. He was also given his own cabin like others.

When he came inside her office, she wasn't alone. Another fat guy, who seemed to be of Arjun's age group, was sitting.

"Meet detective Rohit. Detective Rohit, meet Detective Arjun."

He shook hands and returned his smile.

Indira spoke, turning pages of a black file.

"Listen boys! You have been in the force for a year. You know the rules, I hope. Any problems, you come to me directly. Anything that is important, I must know first. You have been appointed by GOI. But I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU. Clear?"

Government of India. Arjun said to himself.

She stopped turning the pages and stared at the boys sitting. She continued after receiving their nods.

"Both of you are partners now."

To this, Arjun and Rohit looked at each other. Arjun was happy but felt funny as how the fat dude managed to become a detective. And on the other hand he had dedicated all his youth to be fit enough for the job.

"Yes, ma’am." Both replied.

"Here, look at this.” Indira passed a newspaper.

It was The Times Of India. The same one which he has been taking since the day he decided to be a detective. He knew all the officials followed this particular paper. He patted himself mentally for his right decision.

THE MISSING TRAIN

"I have read about it, ma'am." Rohit said.

"I have also read about it,ma’am" Arjun said immediately when he heard the fat dude speak.

"Good, then. Do you also know that the Russian Prime minister is visiting us next month?"Indira said sarcastically, resting her chin on her folded hands.

Both of them nodded.

It had already been in the news. After the foreign tour of the Indian prime minister. It was now the foreign minister's turn.

"This - Hojai to Chandura tunnel was opened just for that purpose. We have made the media stop printing this news so this will remain secret", She paused." This has to remain silent. National security! I have been given the opportunity to appoint my Detectives. So, you two will investigate the matter. Keep it as silent as possible and report everything to me. Seven days! Get me an answer in seven days."

Arjun felt broken. He wanted a murder case.

Indira read his face."Arjun, What's the problem?"

He faked a smile and shook his head trying to convey that there wasn't any problem.

"If you don't want it.."

Arjun decided to take chances." Ma'am, sorry to interrupt,I understand that the Patil family murder is unsolved. I wondered if I could get that one."

"Patil family Suicide. It's solved, Arjun. The twelve members all jumped from the roof. That was a suicide."Indira corrected."And this is an important matter to the nation. You are getting a golden chance to make names for yourself. And some for me too. Get the train back. And maybe you will be the next Deputy chief."

Rohit said."Ma'am, I am in."

Arjun gave a fake smile. First day of his dream job and it was bad to deny any offers. He understood that. "Yes,sure ma'am. I am also in."

"All the best lads."

Chapter 4

"Maa, shall I go to the pond?"

The eight years old Baba asked his mother.

"Not alone. Ask your sister…" Came the reply from his mother. She turned on the grinding machine.

"But.."

Shakuntala Devi couldn't hear her son's voice due to the noise.

"I am going with Dadu."Said the boy once the machine stopped.

She turned back."What Dadu?"Her eyes wide.

The boy showed his teeth while he smiled.

"My Dadu. He is in my room. I wanted to go to the pond with him but he said to get your permission. Can I? Please Maa."

Shakuntala Devi was now shocked at her son's statement. She quickly took him by the corridor and pointed to a portrait.

"H..Him?"

The kid first looked at his mother and then at the picture."Yes, Maa."

Shakuntala Devi's eyes were shocked. She couldn't decide what to say.

How is this possible?

She breathed.

"NO. You aren't going out of the house. Take that chair and sit."

She pointed to a site where he would stay in her sight.

The boy's face fell and smile faded. He kept staring at his mother.

"Go!"

The shout made him move to the chair.

After being sure that her child won't be out of sight. She went inside her daughter's room. From inside she still kept looking at her son through the window. He sat motionless, murmuring.

"What happened, Maa? What's there outside?"

Purnima, her daughter, stood up from her study table to ask her.

“Sweety." Whispered Shakuntala Devi."Sweety, you know what he said?"

By this time Purnima had seen her brother sitting outside and understood that it was him whom her mother was checking on.

“What?" Purnima mimicked her mother.

"He saw your Dadu. He said that he wanted to go to the pond with him."

Purnima noticed the tension in her mother's face.

"How's that possible? Maa.” She smiled and patted on her shoulders."It might be a dream, Maa."

“How? How?” Shakuntala Devi sat at the bed. Purnima wiped tears from her mother's face.

"Oh, come on,Now. Maa. Stop it."

"B..but your Dadu died when he wasn't even born. Even you were just two years old."

"I understand, Maa. I even hardly remember him. Let me talk with my brother."Purnima said.

"Why is my child…"Shakuntala Devi choked.

Chapter 5

"It's your first case?"

Rohit asked.

Arjun had already lost his mood and avoided everything. He had dreamt of solving the Patil family Suicide case. It had always occupied him since the very first time he came to know about it.

Six months back, one night Patil with his eleven other family members jumped from the fourth floor of the building and died. He was rich. And almost had everything that a man of his age would want. His two sons and three Grandchildrens also died with him. Arjun was sure that it was a murder. There was no point in suicide. But he didn't get it.

From the office he and Rohit sat in the car given to them and they drove. Rohit understood that his partner's mood was off so he drove without saying anything. Until now.

"Umm. She could have given me that case!” Arjun stopped speaking. He couldn't trust him so easily. What if Rohit reported to Indira against him?

But his doubt was clear when Rohit spoke without hesitation."Yes, I understand. But you did good by not going into debate with her. Last time when she gave me a murder case I denied. And then she made me transfer to Call Stations. Like hell! I was listening to some international calls and all but that's not what I wanted. So this time I simply took it. Anyways, we get a chance to change bosses after three assignments. I am waiting for that day."

Both laughed.

"So where do we first start?"Arjun asked.

"Hojai is on the way.."

"But we should go to the site first."

"We should. Yeah."

Rohit took out a cigarette. Arjun denied.

They reached the highway while Rohit smoked.

"You said the Patil case was murder?"He said as smoke left his mouth.

"Ofcourse it's a murder. Do you really believe the theory the detective gave? All the evidence proves that it was a suicide. That's what he said. What evidence? I mean… he didn't see the evidences that's why he concluded that it was a suicide."Arjun had been dying to explain this to many people as he could."OK for a moment I will trust him. But give me one reason why the family would suicide. Come on. Can he? Can you?"

"That's hot! You really wanted the case." Rohit laughed.

"You see, the youngest child, the four year old kid's body was two metres away from the rest of the body."

"He was thrown." Rohit nodded and threw away the cigarette.

"That would have been a crazy case."Arjun chuckled.

"This one's crazy too. ScL 11 went missing. A whole train! Beleive me A WHOLE TRAIN just disappeared. They say it entered the tunnel but never came out." Rohit smiled. Trying to convey that it was also not less than a murder case.

"How many passengers?"

"Two pilots and five VIPs!" Rohit replied reading the file Indira gave to them."They don't even reveal the five VIPs to us. I even heard that one of them is from the Russian embassy. But here, it's written as just VIPs."

He closed the file. And continued, " There's an urban myth of an Italian train. Have you heard about it?"

Arjun looked at him.

Rohit burst in laughter. " Ok. Sorry! Sorry! My bad. "

Arjun inhaled a long air absorbing the reality and the fact that he didn't get any murder case in his first assignment but yeah next time he won't let any chances slip. He pressed his forehead to counteract the headache that he experienced frequently.

Fuck this ache.

"The missing train. A good headline. Isn't it?” He said.

Rohit said to him."Why the murder case?"

"Because they deserve justice."

Chapter 6

"Babu, here, I have brought this for you.” Shakuntala Devi's husband was back from work and the mother didn't waste any time in giving him details about the incident.

The boy took the plate of three gulab jamuns and smiled.

"Thanks Papa."

His father saw the drawing that the boy was busy with. It was a tree shaded with a pencil. He was always proud of how his boy made advanced pencil shades.

"That's nice." He said, patting the boy's shoulder.

The kid nodded while his mouth was full with the gulab jamuns.

His father was waiting for the right time.

"Do you miss your Dadu, beta?"

The kid looked up in surprise.

"Papa, I haven't even met him. Why would I miss him?"

His father made him sit at the bed and he sat near him.

"Your mother said, you were demanding to go to the pond with your Dadu. Is it?"

"What?" The kid broke into laughter."When did I...Maa! Maa!". He called her.

Shakuntala Devi was near the wall. Purnima and she were trying to listen to the boy's conversation. They came rushing in as soon as they heard him call.

"What happened?"She entered with a surprised face.

The kid is still laughing." Maa, Did I say anything about Dadu? I haven't even met him."

Shakuntala Devi shot a glance at her husband. He shook his head and she nodded to him.

"No. You didn't. You said it was a dream.” Shakuntala Devi also sat beside her son.

"A dream? I don't remember any." He said and put the last sweets into his mouth.”Here." He passed the plate to his mother.

"Wow! My brother is going to be a great artist one day. Look at this, Maa.” Purnima showed the paper that the boy was drawing to her mother.

His father gestured to them to leave.

After everyone left, he turned to his son.

"Why don't you go out to play with your school friends? I mean,you can draw after playing. We won't scold you for that."

The kid stood up and went to his chair and started drawing.

His father left him alone without saying anything.

He was stopped at the corner by the two ladies.

“What?" Shakuntala Devi whispered.

"He doesn't remember anything."

"I understood that. Now what is he doing?” Shakuntala Devi said with her eyes closed.

"He ignored me. Maybe he needs some time alone. Privacy."

"What privacy! He is just eight."

"This new generation. They aren't the same as we were, Shakun. Let him be."

The two ladies followed him.

Chapter 7

The sun was bright and it hurt his eyes. He made some uncomfortable shifting in his seat.

"How far now, Inspector Parey. What was your name?"Arjun said and opened the window of the car.

"It's Parewal. Sir.” Inspector Parewal replied from the back seat." Just the next turn and we are there. Actually this is the shortcut, sir. That's why the road is little bit rougher.” He laughed. "A sacrifice to achieve something."

Inspector Parewal came to receive them at Hojai.

They passed the tall trees. Arjun felt the headache again. He closed his eyes tightly and stretched his forehead. It felt like it disappeared.

They were passing through a forest road. Heavy bushes on both sides. Even in the middle of the day, the sunlight struggled to reach them.

They had entered the last station of Hojai and made some enquiries. The duty guy got the news of the train at 1:15 am and saw the train past the station at 1:28 am.

"The train didn't even slow down.” He had said to the detectives.

After Hojai they decided to check the tunnel where it disappeared.

The Chandura town was sitting to their left. And at the centre lay a tall huge structure with a snake-like figure wrapped around it. Small streets and small houses decorated the place. Tiny bright suns shone at the roofs of the houses. To the corner the school students were having their assembly. Arjun didn't take his eyes off the site. The end of the town is the beginning of the pines. The pine trees stretched for miles till it met the hills.

"It's calm” He whispered. No-one heard him.

"Left! left! Sir."Inspector Parewal said and gestured with his left hand.

Rohit gave a swift turn and stopped." That's it. Quite a long journey. I would say."

Arjun saw that the road ended because a highland stood ahead. The tunnel had to be climbed on foot. An exposed path leading to the top between the trees was visible.

"80 feet, Sir.” Inspector Parewal said and led them.

Rohit followed. Arjun walked at the last. He checked every bush for any train parts. He held the branches carefully so as not to slip while heading up.

"People walk through this regularly, Parewal ji?" Rohit asked.

Parewal laughed."It's their village,Sir. They probably enjoy the view from the tunnel top."

Rohit struggled for air once they reached the rail tracks.

There were four workers at the tunnel entrance. All in their navy blue uniform.

“Sir!" One of them came close and saluted.

Arjun nodded.

He went close to the tunnel, stood at the centre and looked through the tunnel. It was dark.

He gestured for the torch to the worker. The torch couldn't reach the other side.

"How long is it?” He heard Rohit ask.

"Hundred and ten metres!” Someone replied.

“110" said Arjun to himself.

Rohit asked more questions.

"How did you know that the train didn't come out of the tunnel?"

While Arjun kept checking below the hill to find any trace.

"Sir, we four were on duty yesterday night. Two of us were on this side and the other two on that side. I was on the other side. We saw the train enter the tunnel. And even heard it's sound for some time but then it didn't come out. For a moment we thought it might have stopped so we came down to check but there wasn't any train inside." The man said.

Rohit looked at Arjun because he was confused about how to move ahead.

Arjun came close."So you didn't see the train come out?"

Two mens shook their heads in agreement. Both of them were dark skinned and young lads. Slim but shorter than him.

"How many coaches were there? Did you see?"

"Sir,one! I saw it from far apart. It had one coach only."Spoke the shorter one.

He saw Rohit look at him. He understood what Rohit was trying to say. They had already learnt from the file that it had three coaches and two engines.

"You were here ?"

"No. Sir I was on the other side."

Arjun said."Who was on this side then?"

Two of them came front.

"You said you saw the train enter. How many coaches did you see?"

He was silent.

Arjun spoke low." Did you see the train enter?"

"No." Came the reply.

"Where were you?"

He said. "Sir, I was here. But I fell asleep."

Arjun looked at them carefully as if to deduce something. And after a while he said." Four of you wait here till the first patrol comes in. Stand at the top. I don't want to lose sight of you."

"Yes sir!"

Arjun and Rohit walked ahead to the top of the tunnel where the four mens were standing.

"We will check inside during our return."

Rohit nodded in agreement."I am sure that they didn't even see the train. What do you think?"He asked softly. He knew Inspector Parewal couldn't listen to them. He was quite behind them.

"It's just not possible. Where would the train go?"Arjun paused."Whatever it is, these guys are involved. It's just illogical for the train to disappear without their knowledge."

"Hmm" Rohit who was listening carefully, thought something and nodded."Parewal ji!"

Parewal came jogging." Yes sir"

"I want all of them in custody. Don't make them meet anyone till we question them."

Parewal nodded to follow the orders and left running.

Arjun spoke after he left." They were actually kept to repair any tunnel damages."

"I understand but.."

"Yes! We need to question them."

They reached the end when Arjun spotted something that his face glittered.

He went and picked up an empty alcohol bottle with his gloves on.

"Oh!" Rohit said as he saw the bottle.

"It's not dirty. Must be yesterday's bottle."

After roaming a while and having found nothing they decided to return through the tunnel.

"Ahh bloody darkness." Rohit said and lit a cigarette.

The tunnel was dark and cold. A cold breeze blew inside it and the smell was getting worse. After walking for a while, checking for stuff, they pass a leaking wall. Very little water flowed inside from the leakage. And some mosses had grown at the path of the flow.

"Look at this." Rohit aimed his torch at the ground. His voice echoed.

Arjun went close to see a shoe.

"A kid's shoe!"

"Yeah."Arjun picked it up. He ran his finger across it. Through the fabric. Looked inside it with the torch. He observed the sole closely and spoke. "It's new and clean. And this one's for the left leg."

Now he felt like it was speaking to him. The design and the colour of the shoe scratched at his brain. It was like he was trying to remember a poem.

The words came and vanished. His mind became blank again.

Rohit pulled the shoe from Arjun's grip. "Five to Six years old?"

Arjun, who was examining the walls. "Probably."

"We need to get to the boys." Rohit said.

"Let Parewal do the job. I suggest that we go with the patrolling team up to Chandura.” He stopped looking at the wall and turned to Rohit.

"That's Chandura village." Rohit said pointing in the air.

"The station. We need to see the station."

Rohit puffed." Yes. God knows what the fuck is going on."

Arjun walked with him."It's all planned."

"By whom?"

" That we need to find out. Also why is this planned?"

Chapter 8

For an eight year old, Shakuntala Devi gave her son more freedom than any other kid. She felt that he liked to be alone and avoided friends and going out playing.

"Maa, he is a gifted artist. Look at his advancement at such an age. That's why he avoids people.” Purnima had told her mother many times.

So whenever he would ask something she would give him. An own room. Riding three kilometres to school alone on his bicycle. Every demand that he made was completed.

Shakuntala Devi found those demands very genuine and modest.

"Maa, I don't want to burden you more. I wish to go to school alone on my cycle. I promise if you hear anything bad about me, I will stop going alone. But Maa I have grown up and I can ride three kilometres alone."

He had said to his mother. And she couldn't deny it.

Today too, he bid bye to his mother like always at seven-thirty in the morning after breakfast. He rode his cycle slowly and carefully. And when he became sure that his mother could no longer see him, he sped up.

He took the left turn instead of taking the right one which led to his school. After a while on the dusty road he saw the pond he had been eagerly waiting to reach. The tall trees with bushy neighbours attracted him more. And the still water between the trees added a glamour to the place.

He smiled, taking a lung full of air.

"You came today also” An old rusty voice spoke.

He knew whose it was. "Yes, Dadu!"

He closed his eyes and lay near the pond.

"Do you understand that you have been skipping school since ninety five days?” He heard him again.

"I don't count days, Dadu. I don't like the place. I am not going back there. I like this place. The beauty! Beauty is what remains hidden, Dadu. I just love how these waters have hidden under the tall trees."

He opened his eyes and stared at the still water.

"Dadu!"He called, still looking at the water.

"Yes, beta." The voice came.

"I feel pity for these waters."

"Why is that so?"

"Where's their freedom?” He paused and answered himself."It's lost. They don't flow with the river anymore. I wonder if they were once part of the river. They have lost the beauty of their journey. They remain here. Still. Motionless. Becoming stingy day by day. But again, it is possible that they hated the river and settled here."

"Beauty of journey? You remember that?"

He closed his eyes again."Yes! I didn't forget what you taught. The beauty of a journey. The destination doesn't matter. It is the journey that matters. At the end we all meet where we are supposed to be. All that matters, all that is going to turn into memories is our journey. right?"

The voice didn't reply. He was silent too.

"Why are you here ?"He heard the voice again.

"Why?" The voice peaked."Why?"

He heard the voice shout. He felt his ears bleed. The voice was hurting him. He had no other way to escape but one.

He knew he couldn't swim. But that's what he has to do. He shut both his ears with hands. Ran. And jumped at the pond. Soon his lungs were full. He tried to come up but...but his legs were held tight underwater.

One destination. 

Chapter 9

"Why do you think this is all planned?"

Rohit and Arjun were moving through the tracks with the patrolling team to the Chandura station. It was four kilometres away from the tunnel. Arjun had seen the station from above the tunnel itself. But the route to the station means crossing through two hills and taking a big u-turn.

The journey was silent. A silence that one would long to get in life. Arjun turned to look for orchids when a warm breeze blew around them.

"How can five big boxes of iron weighing hundred kilos disappear? They must be lying."

"If someone planned all this. Then who? Who is planning all this?" Rohit said, smoking, took out the pencil from his pocket and made some writing."Nothing can be deducted from the condition of the tracks."

"What if the train reached Chandura on time? And it went missing from there. Huh?"Arjun said.

"Possible. Because there's no other way."

Arjun nodded and his eyes went to the deep bushy base beside him.

"Sir, please grab a bar. If someone falls from here there's no way that he would survive."Someone from the patrolling team said.

Arjun felt the headache again. He shut his eyes hard and looked up. Rohit's voice was getting unclear. He saw the chubby face of Rohit become blurred. He held the iron bar tight and shook his head. “Stop playing with the pencil. Use this.” He gave a pen.

"Nothing needs to be erased."

"Ok. So yeah, that could be possible."He heard Rohit speak clearly again.

"Sorry. What were you saying? I kind of had that again."

"You alright?"

"Yeah. Just yesterday night booze. What were you saying? Something possible?"

Rohit threw away the cigarette and said softly."I understand. I am sorry."

"What?"

"The pencil. I mean, I read your records. I was working there so it was easy to get one. I am sorry for your loss. I understand why you were looking for a murder case."

Arjun slowly looked away."Nobody caught my parent's murderer. Because their death didn't affect anyone except me. I just wanted to help the child. At Least he will know why his family died."

"Child?"

"Yes, one of the members of the Patil family is in a boarding school. He's alive. And he deserves to know why his father, mother, his siblings and his grandparents died.” Arjun blews a fast air.

“Suicide. That's what they said. Same as they claimed for my parents. Do you know what the police said? They told me that my father killed my mother and then killed himself with the same knife. I am still searching for the reason till today."

Another set of nods from Rohit. He clears his throat.

"I was saying that maybe Indira is also involved. Or some higher officials. Look at us. We are just appointed. Why us? Why not send some experienced brains? '' Rohit held his hands in the air.

"She gave a reason that she wanted it to be secret.” Arjun joined his hands. "Yes but everything is possible, right? Those mens at the tunnel. Their statements don't make sense at all. We should get to them as soon as possible. I am sure they are involved. I am sure of that."

By now they could see the Chandura station again. Dry and small. New paints were being applied. It was being renovated. One half of the station was painted in yellow and some cultural portraits depicting the country's culture. And the other half was yet to paint.

Arjun saw the painting of a lake in between tall pine trees.

"Sharma ji!" The shake by Rohit brought Arjun back to senses." Let's go."

Arjun nodded with a smile and got off.

The station master came to greet them. He was of Rohit's height. But older than any of them. Arjun noticed how he walked very slowly.

"H..Hello Sir." The station master spoke slowly.

His rusty voice revealed that he was weak and old. Arjun and Rohit looked at each other and understood that the man was a few months away from retirement and was ill.

Arjun read the name tag at his chest while Rohit shook hands with him.

Baba Chouhan

Chapter 10

He felt his feet cold.

Did I jump in the water?

He opened his eyes in jolt. He wasn't in the water. It wasn't dark either. And he knew he was breathing.

"Beta!"

He saw the blue sweater and the man in it. The thick moustache. It wasn't his father.

"Don't worry. You are at my house." The man went on."What happened? How did you fall into the pond?"

By this time, the boy was sitting on the floor. His pants were wet. He noticed that he only had his inner wear. He was not wearing his shirt. He looked around.

"I removed your shirt and kept it outside to dry."Said the man.

Then he saw it hung in the sun. He felt his heart beating faster.

"Stop asking him that now! He is already shocked. I had told you before, that pond isn't safe. God knows what happened to him! Beta, you take off your clothes. Here, take the towel."

He heard a female voice. A hand extended with a green towel. He looked up and saw a female. It wasn't his mother either.

The man tried to pull him up." Come on."He resisted.

"W...What pond? Why am I wet?"

The couple exchanged looks. The woman sat down. She was about to utter something.

"Where am I?" He shouted as loud as he could. "WHO are you?"

He stood up in one go and ran for his shirt. He grabbed and ran. He just kept running.

He heard voices fading away.

"Wait!"

"Beta!"

He ran and ran until everything was clear. The trees were still high and the sun warmer. He put off his wet pants. A branch was getting maximum sunlight and he hung his shirt, pants and underwear in it. And on the neighbouring branch he sat naked.

Even in the isolation nothing was silent. Birds and the leaves made noises.

He kept checking his clothes at intervals. The railway track was visible from the branch. A train horn added to the bird's noises. He saw the train and grabbed his clothes and got off on a go.

The train passed the town at the exact time of his class's end. He was waiting for this daily passenger to pass since his watch wasn't working due to the water.

He took his cycle and rode back home.

He found his father's Scooter missing which means he hasn't returned from his school. He slowly parked the cycle and went to his room.

"Oh! you are back.” Shakuntala Devi came from the kitchen. "I was preparing for you two. Is your sister back?"

"I don't know."

"Fresh up and have food. She will also be here soon. It's two forty already."

He climbed up the stairs into his room and went to his window. As he was about to push them open. He saw his Sister through the window glass. She was with a boy. Probably of her age because he was taller than her and their uniforms were similar. Both of them were smiling and close to the wall.

He wondered why they went behind the house. He saw them come closer and they kissed. He kept looking at them. The boy's hand slowly went to her breasts and she pushed him and ran smiling. And again came back, kissed him on cheeks and bid bye. He saw the boy too leave.

"Maa! I am back!” He heard her shout. "Oh! My brother's back too!"She continued when she saw his cycle.

She found him looking at her. "What?"

He didn't answer. And she went to her room.

"Why do you eat so little?” His mother said when he was about to finish his lunch.

"Maa! I had my tiffin.” He replied and washed his hands.

He sat at his table and took out a blank page and started to scramble his pencil. A long stroke followed by another stroke and another stroke. Shoes done, Hairs done and then hands done.

He went busy with the sketch that he didn't realise when his father entered. The door opened and he was distracted. He knew it was four already because his father returned.

His father saw the sketch and gazed at him." Did you have lunch?"

"Yes, Papa."

His father rubbed his hairs and left. After a while his mother came rushing and took the sketch in her hands. She covered her mouth with her hand." God! What is this? How did you learn? Do they teach you this at school?"

"No."

"Then how come you draw this?"

It was of a girl and a boy kissing behind a wall.

Chapter 11

"So you were at the station last night?"

Rohit asked.

Arjun looked around the station and walked in. He checked the entry gate and exit gate of the station. The train schedule hung on the wall near the station master. It was a small station and an old one. And the station master was older.

Chouhan took time before replying to anything. He took thirty seconds just to say, “I am the station master.”

After that they came into the station master' s office.

Chouhan nodded his head. His body shook almost all the time. "Y..yes."

He stretched his face. And rubbed the cut at the cheek. It was an old cut.

"What were you doing at, say, umm between one and two in the midnight?"Arjun said, taking a seat in front of the desk."When did the train arrive?"

Chouhan's body was shaking. He looked at Arjun. He had been looking down since they started talking.

"I don't keep track of time after dinner. Mostly I sleep. At the station." Chouhan said.

Rohit moved in his chair."So the train came and left. I mean it started it's return journey from this station. That's what you are saying."

Chouhan turned his eyes from Arjun to Rohit.

"No. Sir."

"What the...Get me the list of all trains passing through this station from yesterday." Rohit said.

The old man picked a paper from the corner of the table and handed it to Rohit.

Arjun continued."When is your dinner?"

Rohit turned to Arjun and said softly." The last train was a passenger. Timing at eight p.m yesterday. And no trains for today."

Arjun signalled the station master to answer.

Chouhan propped his elbows on the desk,

clasped his hands together, placed his chin on top of them.

"Around eight I have dinner with my wife. And then I come back sometimes here. Yesterday I also came back after dinner."

" Dinner with wife. At your house? Huh?"He waited for Chouhan's response."Which is where?"He asked after Chouhan's nod.

"Just five minutes walk from here, sir."

Rohit interrupted. "Why don't you stay at your house? I mean, with your wife?"

Chouhan hesitated."I come back if there's work pending. I finish and stay back here. I don't roam at night in the village."

Rohit chuckled." You don't get enough time to do your work during the day?"

Chouhan smiled. The various wrinkles that ran like tributaries across his face became deeper when he smiled. The extra hairs on his ears made him more untidy.

"As you can see this station lacks many employees. I am doing the job of five people."

"Chouhan ji” said Rohit, changing the topic. "A train with some passengers came to your station at around midnight. We need to know what happened to the train."

"I was probably asleep. And the passenger train departed at eight."

"How long have you been here?"Asked Arjun, trying to take a different approach.

Baba Chouhan took some time to answer. He smiled and said, "At this age it is hard to recall dates."

A year old calendar was placed on the table and beside it a paper. Arjun tried to read what was written but couldn't because Baba Chouhan covered them with his hands. He folded them saying, "I am just waiting to get retired." And put them into his pocket.

Arjun felt irritated for not getting straight answers from Chouhan. He had thought that the station master would help them open many doors but none happened. He slowly turned to Rohit. Rohit also starred back with a blank face.

He decided to speak up before the silence turned awkward.

"We will get back to you if needed, Chouhan ji."He stood up and Rohit followed him. Their stay was arranged in a lodge. It was a five minutes walk from the railway station.

Rohit started to laugh on the way. "I can't believe I ended up this way."

"What's that?"

"I thought I was going to run behind some serial killers. A train? A train.” He continued to laugh.

A slight grin appears in Arjun's face."It was you who agreed to Indira, first.'

"Yeah," Rohit tilted his head slightly, "But Why on earth did the tunnel open?"He raised his hand. "I heard stories about it. Cursed and all, you know, stuff like that."

Arjun laughed.

Rohit continued. " The highlands out there are beautiful and scary. These are the deadliest combination possible - beautiful and scary. What are we looking for anyways? The train or the passengers? Though we aren't given any information about the passengers."

"The train."Said Arjun,speeding up. He wanted to reach the room as soon as possible to avoid Rohit.

"Just the train? Hell with the passengers. You know, I was thinking what kind of VIPs were in it. The black suit types or the white trouser types?" Rohit said, trying to keep up the speed.

"Not the white trouser types! If politicians get missing then that would be bigger news in the country than a train missing."

Both laugh.

"I can't get it in. This train is at the tunnel." Rohit said."At such an age of getting married, instead of looking for a bride I am looking for the train."And laughs. 

Chapter 12

Shakuntala Devi's house usually slept before midnight. And being a mother of two kids she was always worried for them. Even if she wakes up after midnight she would enter both their rooms to check them.

She wasn't surprised to find her son's lights on. Because mostly he slept with his lights on while reading a comic lying on his bed.

She slowly pushed the door to avoid noise. He wasn't in bed. He sat in his chair, his hands moving randomly with the pencil.

Shakuntala Devi went close to him. “Baba? You haven't slept yet?"

She saw his drawing. It seemed like a pond. She noticed the reflections of the nearby tree. A scattered reflection. It must be water. And since the grasses are seen, it is a pond.

The boy looked at her. Stunned at her voice. He didn't even notice her entering his room. "Hmm?"

She knew how easily and frequently her son got angry.

"Carry on. But don't be too late. You have to go to the fair with Papa tomorrow. OK? Lord Hanuman's blessings will help you win every competition. Good night artist."

She rubbed his hair and left. She didn't wait for his response because she knew he wouldn't give any. That was the thing with her son. He never responds to any appreciation or criticism when he is busy. Busy with anything. Or sometimes busy doing nothing.

She quietly shut the door back. She stopped for a second to look at the portrait hung. The garland started to darken. It was changed two days back.

"Hare Krishna hare Krishna!"She said to herself when she thought of what her boy had told a few days back. He had come to take her permission to go with the dead man.

The yearly Hanuman mela was held in the town. It lasted for three days. And the whole town is crowded on the last day. Various musicians and artists assemble to earn some fortune. The whole town of Shakuntala Devi waits for the mela in the year.

And the kid's father takes him to the mela in the morning on the last day to receive the blessings of Shri Hanuman. Prayers to bless with strength to survive another year and accomplish one's goal.

After breakfast, the boy and the father left in the scooter for the mela.

His father asked him to get off in front of the parking lot. He saw the long line of motorcycles and cars. Then he noticed the huge gate and the people going inside.

"Let's go.” He was pulled gently by his father and they marched at the direction of the gate.

"Chacha ji! Namaste!" The boy heard his father greet a shopkeeper. It had all kinds of toy guns. But he wasn't interested in guns. First, because they were fake. And second, since they are fake they are useless.

Then he passed the colourful sweets, the hanging balloons, the noisy cloth store, and the stingy chat house.

"Do you want anything?” He heard his father.

"No" Replied the kid.

He never wanted anything from the stores. He saw the temple. The saffron paint shone in the daylight. And the flag with Shri Hanuman on it danced on top of the temple with the air. Many bhakts stood in queue with flowers and fruits and diyas to offer. The queue extended from the entrance of the temple to the flower shop at the base of the temple. And beside it a painter worked with his brush.

They joined the line.

While standing in the queue a man greeted his father. "Namaste Pratap ji!".

The boy heard it but he was busy admiring the artist at the stage, painting a night sky scene. The stars were simple and small yet lovely and beautiful.

"Namaste! Just came to take blessings with my boy. Is this your daughter?"

The man looked at the boy.

"Arre, you?"He said, raising his hand and then to the boy's father, "He is your son? Yesterday he fell into the pond. Maybe he didn't know how to swim. I rescued him but he ran without saying a word."

Chapter 13

The Chandura village was awarded the cleanest village of the district last year. This year they didn't win but they were still clean. Bamboo made dustbins hung around every corner. People refer to it as a village because of the official record of the area as rural. It has two lodges, one English medium school, one government hospital, one private nursing home and a supermarket. All available in a five hundred yards radius. The residential areas were not among the buildings.

Riding through the village Arjun imagined how they managed to stay clean.

"Are you sure this will work?" Rohit's voice brought him back.

"Hmm?", Arjun framed the answer, " Yes. If the train has passed Chandura station then the railway gate guy will know about it. That Bhim Chouhan cannot be trusted. Though his reports.."

Rohit interrupted."Baba Chouhan!"

Arjun thought for a moment and nodded." Yeah."

"So you were saying?" Rohit said, wiping away the sweat from his forehead.

"Baba Chouhan's reports can't be trusted. He says they weren't expecting any trains yesterday."Arjun held both his hands in mid-air.

Rohit said to the driver, " Drive faster please."And then turned back again to Arjun." I was also thinking about that. SCL 11 was supposed to reach Chandura at 2 am and make it's return journey again through the tunnel to Chaparmukh. What's there to be so secret that the station master is kept unaware that a train was going to arrive at his station with some officials?"

"Two engines and three coaches. Started with five passengers and two pilots at midnight for an hour-long journey. And then it disappears inside a tunnel.” Arjun shakes his head. “What the...Did you call the inspector?"

Sitting in the front, Rohit was getting annoyed by the sun.

"He said, they are telling the truth."

"Not possible."

"Yeah but they might be telling the truth. I mean they might have gotten drunk and maybe didn't hear the sound of the train passing. Or maybe it really did vanish. Maybe?" Rohit's eyes stuck at Arjun.

" Look,it is impossible to vanish the train without the guards getting involved. How did everyone come to know that the train disappeared from the tunnel? How? The guards. They informed...it is their statement that the train has vanished. And on their statement, we were sent here. The origin! Look, it's them. If it's not them, it's no one. They informed the station master at Hojai at around 2 am. If the train reached the tunnel at the predicted time.."

"Thirty minutes before Chandura." Rohit said.

"Yes, thirty minutes. Why take so much time?"

Rohit nodded in agreement. "Stop! I need to pee."

Arjun also got off. He knew that Rohit wanted to talk and not urinate.

Rohit slowly released air and took out a cigarette." Let me say...the train reached Chandura. The station master was unaware of it's arrival officially or maybe he was. And maybe...maybe the guards informed them after it reached Chandura. Where could it go next?"

"That's where we are heading."

"Whoever it is, has bought every important person. The guards. The station master probably. Oh, so that's why you asked me to dig out their bank details. I see. What if the railway gate guy denies the passing of a train last night?"

They get in the car. And start driving.

" Let's see."And he looked outside at a big pond and a tall tree near it. It's leaves were like that of a mango tree. It was tall but has grown old. The trunk was not clean and smooth. It was moving backwards and Arjun's eyes followed it. After a second or two, they took a turn and he lost sight of the pond.

The car pulled over."It's his home?"

"Yes, Sir. He lives there." The driver pointed in front.

The gate was small, so a car couldn't have gotten in. It was made up of bamboo but with cement pillars. There was a small garden. Some flowers. Some flowerless plants. . The paint was new. Every house was painted new in fact. And every gate, as far as Arjun could see, was made of bamboo.

Rohit knocked.

A man appeared in ganji and gamosa. “Yes?" He looked at Rohit and then at Arjun.

"Ah, you are the gatekeeper? Mr..?"

"Yes, I am the gatekeeper. Charan Das.I don't.."Still standing with the door half opened. His inner was loose which made him appear more skinny. And his moustache covered most of his upper lips.

Rohit pulled out his ID from his coat.

"Detec...oh. Sir, please come in. Is there a problem?"He opened the door.

Rohit turned at Arjun and Arjun nodded in reply.

A lady appeared from behind Charan Das. "Who are they?"

"They are officials. Please make some tea. Go . move on."He pushed her in.

"Sir, please come in."He said looking ahead if there were more visitors.

Rohit led Arjun in.

The room was cold. But lit with windows. They sat at a brown wooden couch in the centre. Charan stood near them. Arjun gestured to him to sit.

After a while Arjun spoke. "So Charan, you were at the gate yesterday night?"

" Yes, Sir" Charan gave extra nods.

"A train passed the gate at around 2 am, right?"

" 2 am? No. Sir, I was awake the whole night watching a film on my phone. No train passed. And I wasn't given any information for a train that would pass."

"Are you sure the train didn't pass? '

"Yes sir!"

The lady came with tea."Sir, please."

"Thanks. Have a seat. Please."

They looked at each other.

"She's my wife. Purnima devi. We are expecting the baby in three months." Charan said.

Rohit said" Congratulations!"

"Charan, do you stay all night at the gate? You should take leave to take care of your family."

Charan grinned."At night, her mother comes to stay. There are supporters, sir. That's why everything is going smoothly. Please have the tea, sir"

The three of them each take one cup. Then they drink silently. It was Rohit who spoke first.

"Will we leave then?"

"We must. Thanks for the tea Purnima. Thank you for your cooperation, Charan."Arjun said.

Charan came to see them off. He said softly, "Sir, did anything happen? The train?"

"The train is running late.” Arjun said.

And they drove off.

After a while of driving silently Arjun said after a low whistle."Purnima! Have we met her before?"

Rohit, “I never met her before. And I don't know about you. But why do you ask?"

" Just” And he went silent. " Maybe I knew someone with that name."

Rohit kept his eyes fixed." So , Where do we go now?"

Arjun shook his head as if gained senses.

"Let's meet the boys from the tunnel. Also We need someone to keep an eye on the station master and the gatekeeper."

****

"No! I am not lying!" He cried. His hand wrapped with blood. The knife was pushed in again. "Please! Please! Let me go! Please. Please."

" Relax, fucker. Now I hear you shout again. I swear. I swear to Mahadev, I'll chop your balls off."Parewal shouted.

Arjun who was sitting at the other end of the table stood up. He nodded to Rohit, sitting near him.

"Let me talk to him. Check on the last one."He said, patting at Parewals shoulder.

It was Arjun's idea to deal with the four guards one by one in a separate room.

Parewal left after delivering a nod at the two detectives individually.

Rohit lit a cigarette and puffed into the guard's face.

"Imraan, we can save you from that cop. Tell us what happened with the train. Tell us the truth. Please."Arjun spoke softly.

Imraan shook his head, tears flowing down through his cheeks. His eyes are red in pain."I am telling the truth sir. I have no idea how it disappeared. Please sir, believe me. please."He was terrified by the blood that flowed from his hand. His other hand held the cut to stop the flow of blood.

Rohit held his cigarette in his mouth and pulled out the .45 automatic and kept it at the table with a force. The sound was loud enough to pull the attention of the guards.

“Please!" He cried.

"I did everything to get this job. I will do everything to get higher. Do you understand?" Rohit pointed the gun at his head.

"Please! Arjun Sir, please. Save me. I am telling the truth. Please.” Imraan shut his eyes hard and wailled.

Rohit turned and kicked his chair.

"I can't stand this anymore. All three of them giving the same fucking anwer. The same fucking answer!" Rohit placed the gun at Imraan's forehead." Tell me your last wish. One of my bullets is begging to enter your skull."

"Please…"

"Rohit. Put it aside. Come on, I am dealing with it. Come on, put it in."

Arjun guided him to put it in and to Imraan." Listen Imraan, do you have any idea, I mean any, any idea of your fate. In my past life I have told fortunes in school and bought ice creams. And let me say this, I don't see anything in your life after a minute. Do you understand?"

"Sir, sir, we were drunk. That's why it took some time for us to cross check the tunnel and inform the head office. We don't know anything sir. Please sir. Please.."

Rohit sat down again."Who the fuck paid you? How many fucking money,huh?"And then to Arjun ."He is ready to die. I want to know how much money he got. That's all, man."

The door opened. Parewal rushed in shaking his head in anger.

Rohit threw the cigarette."Oy, kiddo. You can do one thing. Tell us where the train is. We won't reveal that you were involved. This way you won't get into jail. You can even have some percentage of our reward. If we happen to get any. I mean... that's also a good deal,right?"

Arjun looked at Imraan. His face was covered with sweat and tears.

"Please..I don't know anything."

Parewal came close.

"Did it work?"

Parewal shook.

"Please! sir.."

Imraan stopped when Parewal shouted.

"Speak up! I won't regret shooting all of you. Even if you aren't involved."He pointed his gun.

"Please.."

"Oh, I am tired of your PLEASE. All you fucking bastards are speaking the same word since five hours. Now ! I will count to three and you won't remember anything after that if you don't speak up. Now! One. Two."

"Please.Plea.."

He fired. The sound was so high that Arjun bent down in fright. Rohit froze in his seat.

"Three. Fuck your please."Parewal put his gun in.

Arjun slowly raised and saw Imraan still in his chair. He breathed air in relief. The bullet was at the wall.

"Look at that."Parewal turned Imraan's head to the wall. Imraan is still shivering in fear." That's the bullet, alone. Next time it won't be alone. It will be with your flesh and skull. Hmm? You better be telling the truth or else if we find out that you are involved. I can't even picture how terrible that day would be."

Arjun left the cell. Rohit followed him.

"I think they are telling the truth, Sir."Parewal came to them.

Rohit lit a cigarette." You think?"

Parewal sat down following Arjun's wave.

"Any updates on the station master?"

"No, Sir. He seems to be following his regular lifestyle. I have his bank details. Nothing suspicious. Not even the gate keeper's account."

He looked at Rohit. Rohit too didn't have any answer.

"Sir, If you permit, shall I speak something?"Parewal continued after Rohit nodded."Sir, I have been here for the last eleven years. And yesterday I remembered that a person came to me some five years back. He complained that his five cows disappeared near the tunnel. The tunnel wasn't renovated at that moment but I just wanted to let you know."

"The cows? They could have been eaten or sold."Arjun raised his hand.

"Sir, this is a hindu village. The neighborhood is also hindus. We don't involve cows in business."

Rohit laughed."Parewal ji, you should stop thinking. Let us do that part."

"Sir, the tunnel was reopened after many decades. People here believe it was cursed, that's why it was broken soon after the construction. And now on the inauguration of the tunnel, the train disappears. There has to be something.."

"And we are looking for that something,"Arjun said.

"With all respect, Sir. Not everything has an answer. Do you have any answer to this temple?"Parewal grinned.

"What temple?"Arjun's eyes widened.

" The mahadev temple."

"What's there?"

Parewal stopped smiling." You don't know?"

"Parewal ji, if you tell us then." Rohit said this time.

Parewal chuckled." You are at Chandura and you don't know about the shiv ling. Sir, you both are really fortunate ones. You can witness a miracle today. Today's the thirteenth day since Shivaratri."

Arjun raised his eyebrow. And Rohit rested his back on the chair." Miracle?"

" Yes, The Chandura Mahadev. The milk that is offered to the lord disappears in mid-air."

Rohit chuckled.

"I have seen that myself,Sir."Parewal turned louder.

Arjun patted at Rohit's back and stood up."How far is that temple?”

Chapter 14

The boy started to cry louder.

"What happened?"His mother came in.

He received another slap from his father.

"Ask him!"

She pulled him aside." Enough now

What happened?"

His father pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.

"I received this at my office. He is not attending school for more than ninety days! What was he.."He raised his hand to slap but stopped by his wife.

"Is it true? Baba?"She asked softly.

He was silent.

Slap. Slap.

"You always go to school. Where do you go?"

Shakuntala Devi pushed her husband." You please go in. I will talk with him."

" From tomorrow onwards I will drop him off at school.” Said her husband pointing his fingers at the boy.

Shakuntala Devi waited for him to leave..

"Baba, where have you been since ninety days ? Everyday you leave on time for school.'

"I don't like that place."He said, wiping tears from his face with a cloth.

Slap.

He didn't expect that. He looked at his foot. And remained silent.

"I didn't say anything because if I also start beating you then you are going to die today. Idiot!"

He still kept staring at his leg.

Shakuntala Devi said after a pause."Where do you go everyday? Oy!"

He spoke in a low tone." The forest."

"Idiot! Why do you go there?"

He had already planned his answer."I get drawing ideas from there."He slowly wiped away a tear.

Shakuntala Devi sat beside him."We know that you like to draw. That's why we have enrolled you for a drawing class. But you shouldn't skip school for that. School is really necessary. Do you understand?"

A set of nods came from the boy.

"Next time if you wish to miss school and keep drawing just inform me, okay? Just inform me. You don't have to ask me for that. Just- inform."

And she wiped away his tears. She massaged his cheeks." Does it hurt?'

He shoots his head.

" This man! Always showing his strength to kids. Why does he have to hit so hard? Come,"She grabbed his arms." Take rest, and don't cry."

He didn't come out of his room. His mother brought dinner for him after his private tutor left.

Next morning was pouring when he woke up. A strange but regular headache greeted him. He knew it wouldn't last long.

"I will come to take you after class.” His father said when he came for breakfast.

***

"When does your class end?” His father asked while riding the vehicle.

"Two thirty."

"I may be ten to fifteen minutes late. I will also have to meet your teacher."His father kept on speaking. They passed the junction where a road led to the forest. "Your teacher will know the truth. She is one of my colleague's sisters. Anyways, I had a phone call with her last night."

Chapter 15

"The whole village is empty." Rohit said.

The main market was devoid of humans. The streets that they passed through were empty. But soon the empty street is met by a heavy parking lot of vehicles. A number of vehicles parked ahead of them.

"We have to move on foot from here, sir,"Parewal said.

The people that gathered around the temple made it difficult for them to move. Womens and mens and childrens in bright colours walked with them. Many sadhus with hairs tied, danced around, singing ' Har Har Mahadev'.

"Here's the miracle then!"

Rohit was surprised by the bhakts that came to the Mahadev temple . They came to witness the miracle that takes place once every three years.

The disappearance of the milk offered in mid air.

Arjun too was moved by the heavy crowd. But he was busy thinking...what if it is a real miracle?

He noticed the backyard of the temple. More beautifully decorated than the front side. The legendary shivling was placed above. The pujari would offer the milk from the above. And people would witness it disappear. It was late in the evening.

"We need a better view."Arjun said, heading a few steps ahead.

"I have made arrangements, Sir. We will be watching from that point."Parewal pointed to a balcony of the temple.

"No. If the milk really disappears then I will follow the same path to where it disappears. So I will need.."

" That's not possible, Arjun Sir. That place is sacred. People here won't allow you. They will..will do whatever they can to stop you. People here believe that it's Lord Mahadev's foot. Please sir it is not possible."Parewal went near Arjun and said,

Arjun turned to Rohit who nodded."Ok then, when do we witness the miracle?"

"Anytime soon. The pujari will inform us about the hour. He will start pouring when the centre star among those stars will shine brighter than all of them.” Parewal pointed to the sky.

"Ah! diamonds!" Rohit said, looking at the stars. The cloudless sky was decorated with stars.

"That one? That group?"Arjun pointed to his index.

"Yes, sir."

" That's the Sagittarius constellation."

"I didn't study astronomy sir.” Parewal grinned.

The loud singing of Har Har Mahadev made them deaf. The hundreds of bhakts enchanted in rhythm.

Rohit said, moving his head to the rhythm of the song, "I should have known about this place before. Ah! I surely would have enjoyed it with my friends. That point there.” He said pointing to the shivling. "Some of them would have tried to jump from there. I know such humans.” And laughed.

" Friends?"Arjun asked and felt deaf to the noise. His memory bouncing back to somewhere. He knew where he was heading. He didn't want to go there. He took a deep breath and looked up at the Shivling. The noise was back again.

"Yes, partner!" Rohit jumped with the rest.

Arjun smiled softly and looked down. He felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Inspector Parewal.

"Sir, You don't seem to enjoy the place."

He turned and said."I am here to solve a case, Parewal ji."

"I know, I know.” Parewal grinned. "You can ask Bholenath to help you. Your case will be solved easily.” Parewal tilted his head to the Shivling.

Arjun smiled and nodded.

"Don't take me wrong, sir. But I think that you want more than just simply getting the ‘train'." Parewal said.

"Stop thinking."Arjun chuckled.

"It's okay sir, if you don't want to talk but I know that I am not wrong."Parewal said, moving his finger.

Arjun shook his head smiling.

They turned up when they heard the loud sound of the shunk. A loud low pitch sound that lasted for seconds. And came beats from various instruments. The singing grew higher and stronger.

"Har Har Mahadev."Parewal folded his hands.” It's time."

Arjun saw the pujari move ahead with a small pot and pour it. His action was followed by litres of milk poured by the followers from behind. All eyes are set to the same spot.

The milk came down in huge quantities and then disappeared. It was like an invisible carpet soaking everything that hung in the air. Many flowers followed the same path and met the same fate - disappear.

Arjun shouted with hands above his head. "What!"

"God!" Rohit followed.

"Har har mahadev! Har har…"Parewal kept singing. His hands still folded.

The beating of Dhols and singing and continuous pouring of the milk and flowers all kept going.

Arjun took out his phone and held it high to record. His hand was pulled down by a person from the crowd. A dark, bearded man with dark eyes stood before him."Don't record.” He said and released Arjun's arm.

Another man from his side pointed his finger at Arjun." Don't take out your phone."

"Sorry! sorry!"Parewal said to the crowd and put the phone inside Arjun's pocket. And then slowly to Arjun, "Why were you recording? People here get emotional. Don't do it again. This is real public. This isn't our police station, sir."

Arjun nodded and turned to Rohit."How is this possible?"

Rohit had a blank face.

"We need to report to Indira."

Then came another horn.

"What's this for?"

"This is the end, sir." 

Chapter 16

The school ground was flooded with maroon uniforms. He hated this particular time, the assembly time. He hung his head low after getting off the bike. He ignored all the laughter and just walked.

"Oy, Arjun?" Called a boy.

It was Karan. He met Karan last time he came to school. And he talked with him because Karan talked with him. He had to since they were both on the same bench.

"What happened? You were…" Karan took a breath." You were absent for so long."

Arjun smiled."I was sick."

"Sick? Like what?"

"I don't know. I was taking medicine and resting and seeing doctors."

Arjun started walking to his class. Karan followed him. Arjun saw that all the front benches were occupied with bags. So he went to the last one. He saw Karan bringing his own bag from the second bench and following.

"You will be sitting with me?"

"Yes! Of course. I wished you were here during the sports week. It was fun. I participated in all of them. The hundred metre race and even the spoon race. It was funny how they ran." Karan laughed.

"Did you win any?"

Karan laughed more."No. I didn't even complete the race. I was at the last place so I came out of the track. But yeah our football team won the tournament."

"Football! Did you score any goals?"

"I was a substitute. They didn't give me a chance to get in the field."

The bell rang and the two of them went for the assembly. Arjun stood there avoiding every eye contact. Karan was standing in front of him, and suddenly he went behind."I am a little bit taller than you."

After the school prayer and the national anthem they all went to their respective classes.

Now meeting the class teacher was the toughest part of Arjun. He remembered his father's words of meeting his class teacher.

Miss Dey came in. Everyone stood up and sang. Good morning Miss.

Karan whispered." Did you bring your medical reports?"

Arjun shook his head.

"She will ask for them." Karan whispered back.

As warned by Karan, Miss Dey shouted after she placed her register on the table."Arjun Sharma?"

Arjun stood up slowly. He hung his head down. All eyes directed to him.

Get out of the class or Bring your medical reports.

Arjun was expecting these commands. He lied to Karan but he couldn't lie to his teacher. She had his father's contact.

"Sit down"

Arjun heard it and sat down after having a last glance at Miss Dey.

" God saved you!"Whispered Karan.

Arjun didn't reply because he knew it wasn't God. It was his father's meeting with the class teacher. She knew the truth and she had no intention to insult him in the class. A grown up act of a human.

"Who is that girl?"Whispered Karan again.

Arjun still didn't understand which girl he was talking about.

"Oh my god! It's her! She's turning here. Hide!"

Karan's head downed.

Arjun saw the girl looking at them. She was smaller than him. And far fairer.

"I didn't do anything.” It was loud enough for Miss Deb to hear.

"Arjun!" Miss dey shouted. "And karan. Please leave the class."

Karan stood up and started to walk. Arjun followed him. The girl narrowed her eyebrows when Arjun crossed her.

The door closed behind them.

"What's the matter?"

Karan grinned."You shouted."

"No. Not that one. What's going on with the girl?"

"Oh she. She was with us in the same bus. And I made her forcefully give her seat to me. She wanted me to complain to her teacher. I didn't know she was my classmate."

"So?"

"What if she complains to Miss Dey?"

Arjun looked the other way.

"What?" Karan said and released a breath."Anyways we still got punished."

Chapter 17

"And it vanished? Just like that?"

Indira's voice echoed in the meeting hall.

Arjun gave a small nod.

"What do you mean by it just vanished? That's a scam. They are earning money through it. Can't you see that?"

" Ma'am, they don't take money. The pujari takes care of the temple on his own. The milk was collected a day before the night. The point is they don't get money." Rohit said.

Indira opened her mouth." You have been behind this nonsense for three days! I sent you to search for the train. Let the milk go. Where's the train?"

"Just some more days. And we will find out where it is."

" Enough. I am changing plans. This is no longer your assignment. You will be ..” Indira folded her files.

"But we are close." Rohit exclaimed.

"I am done. Arjun, you wanted a murder case? Here” She threw a file. "Get it done."

Arjun, still looking at Indira." The train probably didn't enter the tunnel. I think the train took another route. The other one."

Indira sat down slowly."What's the possibility?"

"That's the only way to disappear from the train."

Indira rested her back."Ah. So we were busy with the new route. And they got three days to clear up."

"Enough time,"Arjun nodded.

Her PA who has been listening to all this and busy with his ipad spoke on Indira's command." There hasn't been a report of any such train on the other route. Again, that's a busy station. It would be tough to escape."

Indira glanced at Arjun and bent her lips.

" Then it's clear. The train didn't take the other route. It came for the tunnel."Arjun nodded.

"Arjun, this isn't a classroom."

"Ma'am, they are making the milk vanish. They can make a train disappear. We just need to find out how. They are using something. Something that we don't know. They don't want money. It could be worse than that."

Indira rested back on her chair. "We tracked their phones, the People in the train. Their records show that they went into the tunnel.” She paused.

"And?" Rohit said and leaned forward.

Indira shook her head in disappointment."And it's gone again. Signals dead. But!” She tapped the table. "One of the phones was turned on again. The signal lasted for two or three seconds and it's nearby the tunnel. I wanted to tell this to you, that's why you both,” She pointed her finger. "Were called."

Arjun and Rohit shot glances at each other.

"I have sent another team to the site. But if you guys think that the temple thing is connected with the case then go on. Anything you want me to do for you?"

Arjun spoke." There is a problem with the temple. We cannot simply enter and search the area."

Rohit added. "Sentimental"

Arjun nodded. "Also, I think we need to consult a magician."

Rohit turned to Arjun at a jolt. He turned so fast that it hurt his neck.

Indira chuckled and said." Magician? lord!"

Arjun saw Rohit looking at him. He nodded.

"Yes ma'am, we might need to talk to one." This came from Rohit.

"Shut up. I'll arrange someone of expertise in that case. You will leave for Chandura tomorrow at eight."

***

"Doctor Rajan Deb." The man in the blue suit said. Indira had asked them to meet the person.

His large dark eyes fixed far back in their sockets. His cheeks appeared collapsed to the skull bones. His lips were thick and nose thin as his arms. He came around the desk to greet them, his hand outstretched.

“Detective Arjun and Detective Rohit,"He said, “glad you could come so quickly.”

They shook hands.

"Ah. I am an astrophysicist. Currently I am the acting Head of the forensic team,here."

"We thought Indira ma'am was going to appoint some newbie," Rohit said.

Rajan laughed.

"She wanted to, I won't lie. But when she said about stars aligning and all, I decided to join you folks." Rajan said and waved his hands."Stars! "

" You heard that ?"

Rajan leaned forward." Yes. And I believe you both. But that magician thing."He laughs again." That's terrible!"

"It seemed like magic to us."

Rajan sooke softly." The show can be called ' magic' but the reason is science."

"We will find a way to help you get in,"Arjun said.

"Actually me. Arjun will be out for different stuff. Your lodging has been sorted out by the local inspector. Doctor." 

Chapter 18

"Ok! You will be present tomorrow?"

"Yes"

"Bye then!" Karan said and ran for his bus.

He stood and saw all the nine school buses leave. Some left with their parents. Some left on their bicycles. And he waited for his father to come. Today was half day but his father probably didn't know which means he has to stay for two hours more.

He looked around and remembered the waiting area. He decided to wait there. It was hot and he was thirsty.

He went to the waiting area. He noticed a figure sitting but didn't bother to look. He avoided and sat at the opposite.

"What's your name?"Asked the girl.

"Arjun. Why do you ask?"

She laughed."Why did you shout at the class? You were punished without any reason."

"I didn't do anything! You were looking at me. Staring at me actually."

" Yes, because you are a newcomer."

"I was afraid,"He answered.

"Ok, come on. Let's have ice cream!"She said.

He hesitated."No."He didn't have any money."I have my lunch! If you are hungry you can have it."

" Really? Give na."

They share lunch.

"It was amazing! Come I'll buy you ice cream, ``she said.

They buy incream. She paid a Five rupee note. Both enjoy it. Times seem to be passing fast.

"Why aren't you going home?"

He replied."Because Papa forgot that today's half day. And you?"

"Both my parents are at the office. I have to wait every half day. But today was fun."

" Fun, yes. I think Papa will be here soon, ``he said.

She suddenly stood up,"Ouch!"And her ice cream fell on her skirt.

He took out his handkerchief and gave it to her. She cleaned it."I'll give it back to you tomorrow."

"No ! No! I need it now."

"Arey... don't worry. We have a maid. She does all this."

"Papa will scold me if anything is left. Please give me back."

A scooter approaches the school gate.

"He's here."He grabs the hanky from her hand and puts it in his pocket and runs out."Bye!"

After his father starts driving, he turns and looks back. He saw her standing at the gate. Just a black long car drove towards the gate and he saw her moving towards it.

Probably her parents!

Chapter 19

"Truly attention driving!"

Doctor Rajan exclaimed.

They were looking at the temple in the morning. It was hardly seven.

"It's large." Rohit said.

"And mysterious!"Arjun added.

"Is that the site?" Rajan pointed his finger at the shivling.

Arjun looked over his shoulder and nodded.

The huge Shivling stood like a mountain in the clear sky extending to the clouds.

Rajan's eyes widened in astonishment. His pupils dilated.

"He will be with you, Doctor."Arjun tilted his head to Rohit and shook hands.

" Don't get killed."He said softly to Rohit and got into the car.

"Where are we heading, Sir?"Asked the driver.

" The Station master's place."

***

"Where were you yesterday night?"

Baba Chouhan's hand trembled as he pulled a chair.

"At my office." Chouhan replied and moved the chair to Arjun.

"You didn't go to the temple?"

"That place is not for me." Chouhan took a cup of tea. Arjun held the cup and bent slightly to the lady to thank her.

He took a sip and cleared his throat ."Ah! lovely. Days since I tasted such tea.” And to Baba Chouhan. "Yes?"

Baba Chouhan seemed to get irritated. He placed his cup at the table and straightened his back. "I was informed about it.”

"The train?” Arjun had already predicted it.

Baba Chouhan inhaled some air. "I was told that the train was taking its first journey. I had no idea about who was inside. If that's what you want."

Arjun went to the window of his home. He saw the tall Shiv ling. He didn't want to know more about the train.

"How long has this temple been here?"

Chouhan looked at it."I don't know."

Arjun noticed that Chouhan's wife now came with the puja thali and lit an incandescent stick to the Sri Ganesha photo that hung at the wall of the room.

" You are an atheist.” Arjun said to Chouhan.

Chouhan looked at him."What do you want to say?"

"I want to know more about this village. There's still lots of things hidden in it. I think. I don't know what but.."

" This place is cursed." Chouhan said.

Arjun was lost in his thoughts. The shivling. The train. The sudden opening of the tunnel. He had wanted a different case but he enjoyed the stay at the village.

"Sorry?"

Baba Chouhan said."When you stay here for long you will understand. Time has cursed this place. There is peace here for everyone but none for one."

"Ay, I need another cup of tea to understand that."Arjun sat back.

"She will get you that. I am late for work." Chouhan pointed to his wife and he moved out." Good day."

Baba Chouhan's wife came back after her puja. He asked for another cup. Finished it. And left after thanking her.

He decided to visit the Panchayat President of the village. He had heard about him. And once, Inspector Parewal had told him to meet the President in person if he wished to learn anything regarding the village.

He went to a tea-stall and got his address.

It was a small ride away from the station master's house.

A short and fat man with small hair at the top greeted him. He asked Arjun to come in with a big smile on his face. The smile never fades away.

" Fast! fast!"He waved his hand.

A plate full of potato curry and roti was brought."Please have some. You have come for the first time to our place. And also a guest at Chandura."

Arjun smiled and brought the plate closer.

"I heard that officers are staying here. Is everything going well?"He gave a laugh, showing himself a proud resident.

Arjun took a bite of the roti." Um. Everything is fine. But soon we are going to leave so I thought to get introduced to you, Mishra Ji."

He laughs again." Very pleased to meet you,Sir. How strange it is. My son must be your age. He just got married last year. Now I am calling you' Sir'."

"You don't have to.” Arjun said with a mouth full of food. "I must say this, the food here is very delicious.” He said pointing at his plate.

"I respect your hard work. That's why you deserve to be addressed as 'Sir'." Mishra takes a bite from his plate.

"Ah, where's your son?"

"Oh, he is in Delhi. He stays there. He is a pharmacist there."

"Oh, great. The food is too good! I wish to stay longer here but we will have to leave soon. I have even seen the miracle of lord Shiv temple here."

"Ah, you have seen that. Very fortunate! Har har mahadev!” He folded his hands. "Happens once in three years when the four stars align. Lord Shiva's feet."

"Sorry?"

"That milk was poured at Lord's feet."

"Oh, that's the belief then?"

"Belief?" Mishra laughs."It's the truth. The milk goes directly into His feet."

Arjun nods with a slight grin."How long has this temple been here?"

"Oh! long ago. Nobody remembers. And a long time has passed since this practice began. This is a gift to us, or let me say - a chance, to serve our Lord."He folded his hands again.

"Har har mahadev."Arjun added and washed his hands." You seem to be younger than the station master. Mishra ji."

"Yes, yes. He is an old man. Doesn't believe in God. How come he got that job? I still doubt that. I was just then a member of the party when he was kicked out of the temple by Vijay Singh, our then president."He waved at his wife to bring more food for him.

"Kicked out? Why?"

"He went to destroy the Lord's linga. Such fools do exist, you see. His daughter was lost but why blame others?"

"His daughter?"

"Yes. His five years old daughter was playing at the field nearby the temple. Baba Chouhan and his wife were praying inside and then they couldn't find her when they came out. Nobody saw her. We all tried very hard to find her but no. She wasn't found. From then he stopped coming to the temple."

"Cursed by time.” Arjun whispered to himself.

"Did you say something?"

"No." He shook his head. "She was their only child?"

"Yes, yes." Mishra washed his hands.

"Mishra ji, I'll take leave then. It was nice meeting you."

"Sure, sure. Please come again before leaving . Bring your partner also."

He came out and texted Rohit.

Any results?

“Station." He commanded the driver and got in the car.

His phone beeped after some time.

No. He needs time. You?

He replied quickly. No.

Time. It clicked his mind. He was heading in the correct way.

Arjun reached the station after a few minutes' drive.

He went to Chouhan's office. Chouhan was busy with a paper. He stood up when he saw Arjun.

"Good morning Sir."His voice was low.

"Please sit down. I came for a simple conversation. Thought I would meet you one last time before leaving."Arjun said and sat.

"Yes P..Please."

"I am sorry to say this but I heard about your daughter."

"Umm." Chouhan looked down.

Arjun noticed that he turned to a photo frame at his table.

"Is that.."He didn't finish when Chouhan nodded and smiled. Chouhan slowly turned the photo to Arjun.

Arjun held it in his hand and saw the picture. A small little girl in white dress standing in front of a gate. He recognised the gate. He just visited the house today morning.

"Just before a day, she bought everything new. New top, new shocks, new shoes. "Baba Chouhan spoke. "She was very happy…"

Shoes. Arjun noticed her shoes. He had seen them. But where? He tried hard to remember and yes. He had seen those shoes. The red and white shoes.

" What's her name, Chouhan ji?"

He took the photo carefully and ran his fingers. " Ayesha. "

Chapter 20

"Teach those manners to your daughter!" Roared Raghav Kumar Patil.

Arjun was sketching peacefully in his room when he heard his father's voice speak loud. He had come out and saw his father shouting at their neighbour, Patil.

Kumar Patil had three sons and two of them stood with their father. The last one stood behind them.

"Your son is the.." Yelled his father pointing at the youngest Patil.

"And your daughter will keep meeting everyone behind the walls. Is it? Teach those manners to her."He shouted back.

"I even feel embarrassed to tell that she is our neighbour."Said the eldest son.

"Pratap uncle, this type of girl should be married now. She is also waiting to get married." The second son.

Arjun saw his father grab the boy's neck and slap. The eldest son pushed him back.

He turned back and came in. Arjun saw his terrified blood shot eyes.

"A daughter shouldn't be given such liberties." Kumar Patil still shouted even though Arjun's father left.

The youngest son of Kumar Patil had clicked a photo of Arjun's sister when she kissed the boy the other day. He had then shown the photo to Mr. Pratap.

But Mr. Pratap broke the phone when he saw the photo. And that created the noise in the neighborhood.

Arjun saw his father enter his sister's room. He knew what had happened to her now.

But this wasn't the end.

Next day when he went to the washroom at school. Three boys coming from the opposite end suddenly laughed at him.

"Oy!"One of them called out," Tell your sister, I will give her my room for those activities."

And the others laughed harder.

"No! I think she loves it by the wall."Another one added.

Arjun understood what they meant. He turned down and sped up.

Chapter 21

"Might just be a coincidence!"

Rohit sat and lit a cigarette.

Arjun was silent.. He again held the shoe that they found inside the tunnel. The image of Baba Chouhan's daughter kept on playing in his mind. Red and white striped shoes.

"Look...look at the size. Probably 4-6 years. It's the same shoe or same style. The same shoe that Baba Chouhan's daughter wore twenty years back before disappearing. The condition.''Arjun gave it to Rohit.

Rohit held the cigarette in his mouth and examined the shoe."Probably used just once or twice. Seems new."

"Exactly!"Arjun chuckled. "It's just funny. Anyways, his daughter's name is Ayesha. Have you heard this name before?"

" No. And you stopped imagining that we have met every girl." Rohit puts out the cigarette. "Any theory,Partner?"

Arjun shook his head. "It's funny. Just funny."

"A week has gone by. We don't have any leads." Rohit said.

"Whoever it is, they are a big organization."

"What do you mean?"

Arjun sat." That temple case. It really does seem like a magic show! Lots and lots of audience. A show that people wait for."

"Probably. But the train didn't catch much attention."

Arjun went to the white board and tapped his finger where ' train' was written. Several other words were written and circled. Everyday when they discover anything new that could be connected to the case is written on the board and a line is drawn as to how it is connected. Arjun picked up the marker and drew a line from ' shoe inside tunnel' to ' station master'.

" Yes! But there's more to come. The train didn't work but there might be something bigger. Whatever it is, we need to find out the reason behind the temple incident."

Rohit nodded."Partner, I don't know but I found Rajan's behaviour strange. He was too excited after looking inside the temple. And when I asked he turned it off. He said, ``You know, I could see he was pretending to know nothing."

Arjun said, running his hand in his chin, "What did he say?"

"He will need time."

"Time."Arjun pushed out some air." Where is he now?"

"He went to his lab. He will be needing some instruments. Day after tomorrow, he will be here. I mean, that's what he told me." Rohit shrugged.

"But we leave tomorrow right?"

"Yes, first assignment. Unsolved!" Rohit laughed loudly.

Chapter 22

"Happy Birthday,Ayesha!"Arjun said

"Thank you! here” She took out another dairy milk chocolate and gave it to him.

"You already gave me one.” Arjun hesitated.

It was lunch time. And Ayesha had distributed chocolates during the first period. It was then, Arjun came to know about her name. Ayesha.

" Yes but have it na"

Karan came to them.

"Ayesha, he is Karan."

She looked up."I know him."

"I am sorry. I didn't know you were my classmate. I won't take your seat again."

"Ok."

Karan stood up." They are waiting for me. I have to go."

Arjun understood what he meant. They practiced small races.

"Why didn't you take the bus yesterday?"

"Mummy said not to. Oh ! And did you get scolded for your hanky?"

"No. I simply dried it in my room."

"You have your own room?"She shouted.

"Yes. Why?"

"I just have a study room. They said I have to wait for another year to get a room. There are lots of empty rooms in my house though. My parents. Uff."She opened a chocolate for herself.

"Oh. Are you a newcomer?"

" Yes. Father got transferred. And you?"

"I am not a newcomer. I was just absent for a long period."

"Why?"

"I was sick,” He said, putting his chocolate in his pocket.

"What happened? My mother is a Doctor. I also wish to be one. What is your aim in life?"

Arjun decided to ignore her first question."I think I am interested in painting."

"That's a hobby! That cannot be an aim."

"Ok. Then I don't know about my aim."

"Very bad. You should decide on one. And please don't tell others that you want to be a painter. They will laugh at you. Painting is a hobby. You can be a Doctor like me."

Arjun laughed." Like you?"

"I am going to be one.”

***

"Do you know that you are funny?"

"I am not funny, Arjun. You are being serious. And I am just being normal."Ayesha said.

"You took that dog in your arms. That's funny, Ayesha."

"Everybody holds them. It's you who hates Dogs."Ayesha said, taking out a notebook from her bag.

"And cats!"Arjun laughed."What's this?"

"This is my slam book. I allow all those persons who are special to me to write about themselves and their opinions about me."

He nodded.

"Now, I want you to write."She gave it to him.

He wasn't expecting this."What do I write?"

"Anything!"She smiled.

He opened a blank page and found the heading as Best Friend.

"Can I write your name as my best friend?"

"It's all yours now. Write whatever you want to write."

"I shall return it to you tomorrow,"He said.

She held his arm."What happened to your arm?"She indicated the scars that he had in his arm.

Arjun had always lied to everyone except his mother because he knew she loved him. And now Ayesha was willing to be his best friend which meant that he could tell her the truth.

"I did it."

"Why!"Her expression changed.

"My grandfather told me to do so. It's nothing.” He said smiling.

"Is he mad? Don't listen to him. Why do you..this is bad."She said.

"I have to listen to him because nobody does."

"Why does nobody listen to him?"

"He's dead. But he talks to me. I must listen to him."

"What?"She laughed." This isn't funny."

"Seriously! I was skipping school because we go to a pond everyday. But when you are with me I cannot hear him."

She took a deep breath." Do your parents know about it?"

"Why are you behaving like this? You said you are my best friend."

"Listen! Arjun. You should tell your parents about your grandfather."

"You said you are my….you said that...then why are you?"

"Bye! Tell your parents about it. You are going mad. This is creepy."She walked away.

Arjun speaks to himself but loud enough for people nearby to hear."She said she was MY"And he picked up the pencil and ran behind her.

He threw her to the ground. She started crying."Arjun! Help me! Get away you idiot!"

"I am not creepy!"Arjun shouted and put the pencil in her thighs. She started bleeding. A few senior boys threw Arjun to the ground.

***

Chapter 23

"No. No. The temple incident wasn't planned. This is working." Doctor Rajan's face glowed and spoke faster.

Doctor Rajan came back and several machines were installed in his lab.

"What is working?"Arjun asked, he could sense the excitement in Rajan's face.

"A wormhole!" Dr. Rajan said.

"Worm what hole?"

"A wormhole. A hole in the space. I am sure it must be a wormhole."

Rohit's phone beeped. He checked and showed it to Arjun.

It was from Indira.

Tomorrow your assignment will be transferred to another capable Detective. Enjoy your last day at Chandura !

Arjun looks at Rohit. His expressions were similar to Arjun's. Both agree on the same thing.

Bullshit. Bullshit theory.

Rajan went to the screen. Arjun could see some stars and lines across it that looked like a net. He understood it was space and the planets were placed on the lines.

Rajan continued. "I can't believe I got this. People have wasted their lives searching for it. And look I got it. I got it. You see the wormhole has.."

Rohit interrupted Doctor Rajan. " Rajan shab You keep your theory with you. We have very little time. Very less. We need the train! We need a reason to believe how the train disappeared."

Arjun added. " Help us find a reason."

" Wormholes frequently appear at this location." Rajan took off his glasses. "Probably in a cycle. Appears at the temple once in three years. The train! The tunnel was reopened, maybe the wormhole was there. Maybe that's also a site."

Rohit lit a cigarette. " We need proof, Doc. Proof. You know Indira right? We don't want a science medal. We need to find where the train went."

" It does make sense. Wait a minute." Arjun sat. " The transmitter was working till it reached the tunnel."

" Can you please show us that this wormhole thing works?"

Doctor Rajan denied. " No. That I can't. If you don't want to believe. Then don't. Anyways, I am leaving today. Good day!" And started to press the keys of a computer.

Arjun looked at Rohit. He shrugged. Rajan didn't care to speak more. And the two detectives left the room.

" Wormhole? seriously?" Rohit laughed. " What is it that he thinks? A sci-fi movie?"

" Let it go. Tomorrow we are going to make another fresh start. And what did that bitct said? ' Another capable Detective'."

Rohit laughed harder. " She got you, brother."

Chapter 24

"Is there anything serious?"Arjun's father asked the doctor."He was just angry at that moment."

"He was angry but it was really necessary to see another doctor. He will be done soon."

"Yes but where is he now?"

"We will take you there in a minute." The doctor replied.

Just then a person came in and whispered into the doctor's ear and left.

" Please follow me." The Doctor stood up.

He led Arjun's parents to a room.

Arjun was already sitting there. His mother hugged him and sat aside.

" Mr. Sharma. Please sit. Myself Doctor Keshav. I am a psychiatrist."

Mr Sharma looked into his wife's eyes and then his son's.

" Arjun said he is sorry for the incident. Am I right Arjun?" Keshav asked.

Arjun nodded.

" Yes, he is. Mr Sharma Arjun said that he has a sister. So you must have raised him with experience from your first child. He is a good artist. I have seen his skill." Keshav passes a paper, " He loves to sketch. And also he loves his grandfather. Did he teach him drawing?"

Mr Sharma takes a moment. " His grandfather?"

" Yes."

" No, Doctor. His grandfather died years before Arjun's birth. Even his elder sister doesn't remember him. "

Keshav looks at Arjun and speaks. " Mr Sharma , did your child go through any mental trauma ? Or any mental disturbances? I understand he is still a child but have there been any accidents before?"

" No, Doctor."

" We will go through your and his mother's medical history and then find out the cause. But your child is a psychotic patient. No! no , don't panic. This is not something very rare. I have dealt with many in my career. In fact he is lucky that we detected it at such an early age. He can be cured. And he will be cured but you have to be careful with him."

" Just tell us what's wrong."

" Nothing is wrong, Sharma ji. He is suffering from psychosis. Arjun thinks that his imagination is real. In normal humans, we can differentiate between the real persons or incidents and the imaginary persons. But your son , Arjun, cannot do that. His imagination of his grandfather speaking seems to be true to him."

" Will he ..Is he going to die?" Arjun's mother broke.

" No. No. This is an illness and can be cured. His actions and behaviour are his symptoms. He might have vertigo. He may feel dizzy at height. He will forget names very frequently. Usually, those characters that he will imagine will have names similar to the ones he came across. "

" You mean , two fathers?"

" No. You are his father. So he might imagine a friend or a milkman, anything, with the name Pratap. Or he might imagine a friend named Shakuntala or Purnima. Purnima is his sister, right? Arjun told me about her."

Arjun's father looked at the table. He seemed nervous and afraid for his child.

The doctor continued, "I think he might not remember much about himself. And sometimes in extreme cases, he may believe that his imagination is his reality and his reality becomes his imagination or a dream. Extreme cases are rare, though. We should start his treatment as soon as possible."

Arjun wasn't aware of what he was suffering from. But the sudden strange behaviour of his parents towards him during their return to home made him feel something wrong about the day.

Arjun went to his mother after the nap. He had a bad dream and as usual he went to share it with her.

She was happy to hear him say, " Maa, I saw that I stabbed my friend with a pencil. And she was bleeding. It was a really bad dream, Maa."

He rubbed his eyes.

Shakuntala Devi asked him to wash his face.

Arjun felt bad for the dream. He liked Ayesha and even the dream that he hurted her was worse for him. He went for his bag and searched for the diary that she gave him. The first chain was checked and found empty. The second chain still didn't have the diary.

He threw his most precious drawing pencils to the floor. His recently sketched papers were crumbled and thrown out. He grinned hard and banged the table. Every drawer is pulled out and emptied, still the diary is not found. He pulled up the mattress and saw the knife. He held it and cut the pillow. He had read that people could hide things inside the pillow. The cottons were pulled out but he didn't find the diary.

He looked up and found his parents standing in front of him.

Tears started to flow when he saw his mother. His father stood like a pole, stiff and motionless.

" Maa! I cannot find the diary that Ayesha gave."

His father raised his hand high and slapped him. " Don't take anyone's name. What sin on earth did I do to have a bitch as a daughter and a mad son?"

Arjun fell into the bed. The knife was still in his hand.

Arjun held the knife hard and turned. In one go he stabbed it to his father's neck and pulled it out. Blood sprinkled from his neck. Mr. Pratap's eyes remained wide and he fell. Shakuntala Devi shouted and wailled and ran to her husband. Arjun watched him bleed. He went deaf. He couldn't hear his mother's voice. He couldn't hear her cry.

" Arjun! Arjun , what did you do? Purnima." Shakuntala Devi stopped wailing. She felt something pass through her throat. She turned around and saw her son standing and pulled out the knife from her neck.

She too fell bleeding near her husband.

Chapter 25

'That bloody tunnel!"Arjun pointed in the air after tugging his last shirt in the bag.

Rohit had finished packing already and sat in the room, smoking."We should give a last round to it. Say, a farewell!"He raised his arm and eyebrows.

Why not?"Arjun tilted his head to the right." Yeah," said nodding.

" It's 11 already. I'll get the car ready. "Rohit went to the car and told the driver. " You don't have to go."

Arjun came out tugging his gun. He saw Rohit by the car and asked. " Where's the driver?"

Rohit smiled. " I will drive." And went on.

Arjun pulled the door open. " You will bring me alive, right?"

" Don't worry, Partner. We will have a long friendship."

They passed the market.

Arjun turned the glass down and looked outside.

" Why is this place so ...so strange?"

Rohit turned. " What?"

" Look at that stall. That lady with yellow saree. And that guy with the red turban…"

Rohit pulled the car over. And looked where Arjun was pointing.

" Also that kid! Everytime we pass through this place they are always there."

" It's a public place. Partner, this is the only market here. Of Course they may have some work." Rohit said and started driving again.

" No, I mean ,I found them exactly where they are now. The red turban guy buying tomatoes everyday. The yellow saree lady passing the stall and the kid sitting there in front of the sweets shop. "

Rohit took out the cigarette packet. " Have one. And let's forget about this place. The train. And we will be successful in our next assignment. Come on! Have one."

Arjun took the packet and kept aside. " Look ahead. And concentrate."

He will be gone by today evening. Maybe he won't even visit this village again.

Arjun felt a stronger connection with the place now. As if he was passing the streets for the last time. The strange station master and the place would be gone by tomorrow. The bamboo gates looked prettier. It was as if this village was his dream.

" Anyways , Partner! Did you get anything from the President?"

Arjun looks outside and shakes his head. " Breakfast. And the food sucked."

Rohit laughed. " What do we tell her?"

" Indira? That she's cute."

" You tell her that and I guarantee you a bottle from me." Rohit laughed.

" Nothing. We will say nothing to Indira. "

" How bad it is to start. That bitch reveals nothing but tells us to find a train." Rohit said.

" She's cute though,"Arjun said. " A goodbye to the mystery." He salutes with his hands.

They climbed up after getting out of the car. Rohit led the way. After a while he suddenly gestured to Arjun to stop. He pressed his lips with his finger and pointed it ahead slowly.

Arjun understood his signal to remain silent, he bent and went to look. It was Doctor Rajan.

" What's he doing here? " Whispered Rohit.

Doctor Rajan grabs a twig and throws it down from the tunnel. He jumps at the site ,laughing hard. He gets down on his knees and looks at the sky.

" Let's ask him."

Doctor Rajan turns when they get close. His smile faded away.

" What are you doing here?" He stands up.

" We wanted to ask you the same." Rohit said, putting hands inside his pocket.

" Why were you dancing?" Arjun chuckled. " What's here?" He checked the site where Rajan threw the twig. " Huh?"

Rajan shivered. "I don't have to explain everything to you. And I enjoy this place. " He pushed his lips to smile and continued," Look at that temple and the hills surrounding it. Anyone would fall for it."

Rohit pulled out his gun and pointed it to Rajan. " I can tell when people lie."

Arjun slowly nodded to Rohit and said. " Let me ask you one more time. Why are you here?"

Rajan turned. " As I said.."

Arjun grabbed his collar. " The truth!"

" The wormhole..." Rajan pointed to the site where he threw the twig. " ..is there. I discovered it." He started laughing. " I...I did it."

Arjun released him and pushed him aside.

Rohit went to look. He stopped pointing the gun. He went near the edge and bent. Rajan suddenly grabbed his gun and pushed him. Rohit fell crying for help.

Arjun ran to grab his hand but failed. He fell and watched Rohit fall and disappear in mid air. His cry faded.

No. No. No.

Rajan laughed harder. Each laugh made him look more evil. He kicked his leg as he laughed and pointed to Arjun. " Get up! Look. I discovered that. I! Me Rajan Deb!"

" Why him?"

" Ask him. Ask yourself. Why do you have to interfere with my discovery now?"

Arjun's eyes become teary. " WHY?"

" Don't fucking do that. Mind your voice. I know how to shoot, Kid. All these years I helped your Indira solve cases. Many many cases. And in return what did I get? Nothing. She takes all the credit. The detectives take all the credit. Not anymore. No."

Arjun stood up and pulled out his gun in a moment. But Rajan was quick. He fired at Arjun. Arjun's shoulder was hit. His hand couldn't bear the weight of the gun. He dropped it. Rajan's eyes were closed at the firing sound. He saw Arjun's shoulder bleed.

Rajan came rushing in to push him down. But Arjun grabbed his neck and tried to stop but his ankle slipped. He grabbed Rajan harder with his other hand. Rajan was also falling with him. It was the same site where Rohit disappeared. Rajan yelled.

" No!"

Arjun shut his eyes.

Chapter 26

The alarm was still beeping. Arjun ran his hand and switched it off. He opened his eyes in a jolt.

He saw the ceiling close to him. And the walls were not too far apart. Only a bed, table, a mirror and some clothes were available. He went to the mirror and looked at himself. He was healthy. He saw a few dresses hung at the wall. Then his eyes went to a paper lying under his door.

He went for it. He was moved when he saw the date. His breathing became faster and he could hear his own heart beat.

1st July 2021

His eyes widened when he saw the headline.

'THE MISSING TRAIN'

Date - 1st July 2021

The Scl 11 was starting it's journey after a rest of three months. It made it's journey from Chaparmukh with three coaches and five passengers. Our resources found that they were VIPs and were selected for the first trip of the train through the tunnel. The Hojai- Chandura tunnel was opened a few days back and SCl 11 was supposed to pass through it. It went inside the tunnel but never came out.

The tunnel was constructed during the 1857 revolution and was destroyed at World war 2 bombings. Since then it has been kept unused. But due to the increase in demand for faster and frequent transport. The government decided to have two rail connections between the hill station and Hojai…

"A train disappeared.."He read slowly..

A flash of the evil laugh of Doctor Rajan came in his mind then came the smile of his friend, Rohit and then the gunshot that hit his shoulder.

He ran his finger on his shoulder. There wasn't any mark of injury. He turned left and saw an identity card on the shelf. He grabbed it and read.

Arjun Sharma

Senior Teacher. The Magnificent art learning house, Chandura.

He threw the card on the floor and ran out. He came out of the lodge. It was familiar to him. The receptionist. The name on top of the wall. He had seen it before but he couldn't remember where? He left thinking .

Yes! Doctor Rajan stayed at the lodge. He ran and ran. He reached the hill. Climbed it in one go and found the tunnel. He went to it and looked down. It was bushy. And the tunnel was empty. It was where his friend Rohit disappeared and he got shot. He closed his eyes and touched his shoulder.

He turned and saw a shoe lying close to his leg. A red and white striped shoe. He held it. It was a small sized shoe.

Probably four to six years old kids.

He held the shoe just above the site where Rohit disappeared and counted.

Three. Two.

He released the air he had been holding.

One.

He released the shoe.

He felt someone's presence. He turned and saw a man sitting a few metres away from him. He recognised the person.

Arjun smiled, " Dadu?"

It was his grandfather. He smiled back and gave a nod.

" You came back, Dadu."