Two Strangers On The Train

Nah, this story is not a love story, but I feel it was more in a sympathy for a dame in distress. This is a story of two strangers traveling in the same coach on a train, and one was in need of help. This is the story when I had just started a job and often traveled to different places officially.

 
I saw her when she suddenly boarded the moving coach as the train left Varanasi rail station. I was going back to Delhi. I was in an air-conditioned sleeper coach when that girl entered that coach, and she looked distressed.

That girl came and sat on a seat in the corner near the entrance. She looked nervous and that made me look at her as I thought she was in trouble. I thought I should help her.

I don't know what was eating her up or why she was so scared, as I saw sadness in her eyes and she was looking so nervous. Maybe she was avoiding someone, or maybe someone was following her. But seeing the expression on her face, I felt pity for her. The train had started moving at full speed, but her nervousness did not reduce.

After a while, the ticket checker came, it seemed as if she would start crying. The checker asked her where she would be traveling to and whether she had a ticket or not. She said that she had to go to Delhi, but her ticket was for the general coach, as she had no time or money for a reservation. She also told TC that she could not board the general coach as the train had already started moving, so she boarded this compartment.

Source

The checker asked her for the penalty as per the rules, but she did not have enough money. She told the TT that she had not enough money because she had left home in an emergency, but she would board the general coach at the next station. She did not tell the checker about the emergency, why she had left home in such a hurry and without money.

I was a bit restless seeing that girl upset, and when I saw tears flowing from her innocent eyes, I wanted to help her. The checker allowed her to travel in the sleeper coach by taking the penalty. But in the process, the girl had no money left. The girl thanked the TC and quietly sat on her seat. There was still nervousness on her face.

I did not like it at and thought that the poor girl had no money left, so she will remain hungry during the travel. I was feeling restless, but I did not know why the problem of an unknown person was bothering me so much. I also tried to divert my attention from her, but my eyes would get stuck on her face.

I decided to help her, so I picked a paper and wrote a note along with some money and gave it to a tea delivery person in the compartment and asked him to give it to the girl.

I also instructed the tea seller not to tell the girl who had sent the letter and the money. I could clearly see that the girl was looking a little nervous while taking the note from the tea seller. Maybe she was thinking who was sending her money without even knowing her or disclosing his identity.

I saw that she opened the letter, on which I had written, "I have been watching your nervousness for a while, and I know that it would be strange and wrong for someone to send a note and money to a stranger girl, but I am willing to solve your problem. I heard you talking with the TC and came to know that you do not have money to reach home.

I am keeping some money with the letter. It's not a favor but just a help. I have also written my address, so if you want to return my money, you can. But to tell you the truth, I do not want you to return the money."

That girl immediately looked for the sender, but she could not understand anything. I also lay down with my face turned to the other side. There was a smile on the girl's face, a smile of relief.

When I woke up the next morning, the train was about to reach Delhi. My eyes first looked towards that girl. She was about to leave after picking up her bag, but there was a slip of paper lying on the seat on which she was sitting.

I got up after she left and read the slip. The girl had written in the slip, "Thank you, I will never forget this favor of yours. Today is the saddest day of my life. My mother suddenly left this world, and that is why I left Varanasi in a hurry. Because of your help, I will be able to see my mother's last rituals. Thank you. I will try to return your money soon."

A relieved smile came on my face. Now I started waiting for her response and checking my postbox to see if any letter from her had come. This wait was getting longer. Then one day I got a letter, in which it was written, 'I have to return the money you gave me, but not by post. I want to meet you. I am writing my address.

Your unknown companion who met you on the train during her difficult times.

Yes, I met her once in a restaurant, she returned my money and that's it. We never met again.

Beneficiaries @elasanz for Mi presentación a esta gran familia
@hive-107855