It was evening. The bustling life of Mumbai was moving ahead with its noise and pace. The clock showed around 6 o'clock, when I decided to take a little break and enjoy the cool breeze of Marine Lines, away from the chaos of the city.
The city's noise was fading behind me as I walked out of Churchgate Station and headed straight towards F.S. Market. The market, as always, was full of liveliness—colorful shops, people moving about, the aroma of food wafting in the air, and the sound of bargaining echoing around. I strolled through the lanes slowly, glancing at the goods, feeling as though I had become a part of everything in that moment.
An hour or more passed like that, wandering through the market. I was tired, but my heart was still searching for peace somewhere else. And perhaps, that peace was hidden in the sea.
Towards Marine Lines
Around 9:30 p.m., I reached Marine Lines. The sight there was as mesmerizing as ever. The waves crashed against the shore as if whispering secrets one by one. I sat down at the sea–facing sitting place. The breeze touched my face, and the sound of waves in the distance brought a strange calm to my heart.
For a while, I just kept watching the sea. The city lights shimmered on the water, as if creating another world. In that moment, it felt as though I was alone, and the whole world existed only between me and the ocean.
My gaze drifted—sometimes fixed on the waves, sometimes wandering towards the far–off Wankhede Stadium. Time slipped away without me realizing it, and about 20 minutes passed while I sat there.
Then suddenly I remembered it was getting late. I stood up, caught a train, and headed back to my room. When I reached, the clock showed 11:20 p.m.
A Mysterious Pull
After entering the room, I removed my shoes, drank some water, and sat on the bed. But an odd restlessness rose within me. It felt as if someone had called out to me, or as though my heart was being drawn to some unseen place.
Barely 10–12 minutes had passed when, for reasons unknown, I stood up again. Without thinking twice, I boarded another train and set off towards Churchgate.
Even I couldn't understand why I was going back. I was tired, the night had deepened, yet inside me a pull was dragging me there.
Silent Marine Lines
This time, when I reached Marine Lines, the scene was not the same as before. The hustle and bustle of the city had vanished. The clock showed it was almost midnight, and the entire area seemed strangely deserted.
I went and sat near a chair. The cold wind had grown stronger, and the sound of waves now felt deeper, more haunting.
By coincidence, within a 200–meter radius, not a single person was visible. The entire seafront seemed abandoned. Only three vehicles caught my eye—a shining BMW, a large bus, and an ordinary white–colored car.
In that eerie silence, an unusual feeling crept over me. As if the beginning of an unknown story was unfolding.
The First Glimpse
I sat there watching the sea, when suddenly my eyes shifted forward. On the very spot at Marine Lines where people usually sit, right there sat a girl.
Her hair swayed with the wind. She wore a light–colored dress that glowed even more in the moonlight. Like me, she too was gazing at the ocean, as though lost in her own thoughts.
Her presence in that lonely atmosphere startled me, yet drew me in. Questions began to rise—why was she sitting there alone so late at night? Was she too brought here by some strange pull? Or was it just a coincidence that both of us ended up at the same place, at the same time?
The sound of the waves, the rush of the breeze, and the silhouette of that girl—all together made the night feel mysterious.
That night began from this very moment, but I had no idea it was not just a coincidence—it was the doorstep of a story…