Ravi checked his watch again. 10:42 PM.
The last train was supposed to arrive at 10:30, but the platform was still empty. A cold wind passed through the small station, carrying the smell of dust and tea. The tea stall nearby was closing, the owner stacking glasses without hurry.
Ravi sat on the wooden bench, his bag resting beside him. He had missed this train once before, and he couldn't afford to miss it again. Not tonight.
His phone buzzed. It was his mother.
"Did you catch the train?" she asked.
"Not yet… it's late," Ravi replied, trying to sound calm.
There was a pause. "Come home safe. Don't worry about anything else."
He nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "I will."
The call ended, but her words stayed.
Ravi had lost his job that morning. No warning, no second chance. Just a short meeting and a polite goodbye. He hadn't told anyone yet. Not his friends, not his mother. He didn't know how.
A distant horn broke the silence.
The train.
Lights appeared in the darkness, slowly growing brighter. The sound of metal on tracks echoed through the station. Ravi stood up, picked up his bag, and took a deep breath.
As the train stopped, doors opened with a heavy clank. A few tired passengers stepped out. No one looked at him. No one cared.
And somehow, that made it easier.
He stepped inside and found a seat near the window. The train started moving again, slowly leaving the quiet station behind.
Ravi looked out into the dark fields passing by. For the first time that day, his mind felt still.
Maybe tomorrow would be difficult. Maybe explaining everything at home would be harder than losing the job itself.
But right now, he was on his way back.
And for tonight, that was enough.