Rahul Mehta boarded the overnight express from Mumbai to Delhi, settling into his window seat in the dimly lit train compartment. Opposite him sat an old lady, Mrs. D'Souza, knitting silently. As the train chugged forward, the conductor, Ramesh, came by to check tickets.
A few hours into the journey, Rahul woke up to a strange stillness. The train was moving, but something felt… off. He looked around. The seat across from him was empty. The old lady was gone.
Confused, he glanced at his watch - 3:15 AM. He pressed the call button for the conductor. When Ramesh arrived, Rahul asked, "Where is the old lady who was sitting here?"
Ramesh frowned. "Sir, you were alone in this compartment when we left Mumbai."
Rahul's blood ran cold. "No, she was right here! We even talked!"
A chill spread through the air. The conductor gave him a strange look. "Sir, this isn't the first time someone has said that."
Rahul demanded an explanation. The train stopped at the next station, and soon, Inspector Arjun Verma boarded, having been alerted by the conductor.
"Mr. Mehta," the inspector said, "Twenty years ago, Mrs. D'Souza was on this very train when she mysteriously disappeared. Some say she fell off, some say she was murdered. But her body was never found."
Rahul felt the blood drain from his face. "But… I spoke to her."
The inspector nodded. "Many passengers claim the same. And each time, she vanishes at exactly 3:15 AM."
A shiver ran down Rahul's spine as the train resumed its journey. Had he really seen a ghost? Or was there something more sinister behind Mrs. D'Souza's disappearance?
As he looked at the empty seat, Rahul suddenly noticed something - a ball of yarn rolling on the floor.
The knitting was unfinished.
And the train continued into the darkness.