Flowing in the past...

The horn shrieked and the massive machine slowly freed itself from the confines of the concrete. People waved to their near and dear as they left for their respective destinations, but as a lone figure stepped into the already moving contraption, he was just greeted with silence and the fact that he was all alone; he had no one to see him off with the usual waves and smiles.

Dressed in nondescript clothing-a blue jeans and a white t-shirt-he clambered on. Vanishing to take a glance at his seating position, he returned in less than a minute; he clutched the vertical rod tightly, so tight that his knuckles turned white. The well-lit haven of the platform had disappeared quite a while ago and now darkness reigned.

The echo of the train reverberating through his ears, he stood there, as still as a shadow...and the thoughts flooded his brain, all about him...and his current life.

As the door of the compartment became the centered location for late night smokers, he walked robotically back to his empty berth. His face was void of emotion as he deposited his backpack on the berth. His eyes revealed not even a glimpse of the storm raging in his mind; something which would surface later and it would consume him and all those around him.

A sudden movement near the door woke him up. How was it possible? How had she come to him? Happiness brimmed in him and he got up to have a better look at her. Yes, it was her-his sweetheart, his love, the one he was going to marry, Rubeena.

Boom. The train jolted to a halt, and with it took her away. In the event, he managed to scrape his hands and also bumped his head. Swearing in the darkness, he looked for her painstakingly. All through the compartment, all around. But she was gone; she had just been a figment of his imagination. There was nothing he could do than wait; wait for her to come and be his. He settled onto the berth and shut his eyes harshly to prevent the tears from flowing. Gosh, he was missing her so much; and this was the last thought he had before darkness overtook him; and he slept. He slept the way he had as a small child. But not for long. He returned to his thoughts in just over a couple of hours.

He walked alone. The two shadows behind him raced on and became one as she ran to surprise him from behind. It was dusk. The orange ball was just lazing into its daily retreat, transforming its home into a pinkish blanket with wisps of red, yellow and orange.

Scaring him like she usually did, he started his daily performance of being angry at this little playful mischief. Used to his demeanor and acting, she put up her baby-face which always caught his attention and made him smile. But today was different.

He kept walking into the horizon, with her in tow. She equaled with him and slid her hand into his; he walked on, unmoved by her action. Gently poking him in the ribs, she asked him," Hey honey, what's the matter? What's wrong with my baby today?"

"Ruby, it’s nothing. I just fought with mom and I'm just giving it some thought."

"Don't lie to me dear. I know you very well. Whenever you fight with mom, you never think about it. You just shout it out or you remain silent till I completely brainwash you to open your trap."

"I so hate you for this. You know me so damn well that nothing stays hidden from you for long," he said, an expression of exasperation on his face.

"You hate me? After all this time I get to hear this from you? Why did I have to see this day God...it would have been better to die rather than seeing this day?"

This banter brought the hint of a smile on his face and this lit up a fountain of hope and love in her heart for him.

"I had a dream. About us. We were together and it was a Sunday. You had held my hand just like now and we were walking on a beach, surrounded by clean sand, water and the colorful heavens. A cool breeze raged around us and kept us safe from the material world."

"This means we were not anywhere near here." She was referring to their city of Mumbai where they resided.

"And how can you say that?"

"Well, Mumbai has no clean beaches, where we can be alone with nature. There's just garbage all around!!"

"Will you let me complete or do you wanna spoil this conversation with your "snide" and "witty" remarks?

"So, we were alone and we were having a great time together. And then, you stopped. All of a sudden. Just like that. You left my hand and..."

"Then what sweety? Spit it out dear, keeping these things inside you are bad for my health," she told him lovingly.

"How will it affect your health," Zamir asked.

"Well, if you don't say it, you'll keep thinking about and you won’t sleep well. So, you'll get headaches and you won't be fine as well. And if you not fine, then how can I be? Did you get it or not my mad idiot?" Rubeena explained.

"Ohh. Then you slapped me. And told me that you were done with me. That you never loved me. And without letting me reason or even to say a word, you just turned and walked away. And you never returned."

Silence ensued after this reply. Both of them walked, hand-in-hand on the sand, and none of them uttered a single word.

She broke the silence, but without uttering a single word. She just clung to his arm. Her action did not go unnoticed; his grip on her arm tightened and the pace of his walking slackened. He turned her to face him and she turned.

Tears glistening in her eyes, she hugged him tight.

"You idiot, I'm never leaving you and going. I love you too much to lose you or to get separated from you. Without you, my life is nothing. There won't be happiness, fun or light. There will just be the dark of the night and the grey of sorrow.

Today, I promise to you that I will never go away. I will always be at your side, whatever be the matter. I will hold your hand and will stand with you even if God is against us. I will forever be yours."

Hearing this, Zamir broke down. Tears flowed freely down his cheeks, and he pulled her into a tight embrace. And they held on.

More than 4 years from this incident, at the age of 22, Zamir got roused from these thoughts by the vibration of his phone. He did not mind it and let the phone remain in its place. He walked back to his perch at the door, and glanced towards the heavens. And up in the sky twinkled a star, much like the eyes of his darling, Rubeena. And imagining this, he smiled. Smiled to himself and looked up. And he thanked God for giving him such a great partner and an even better friend. And he smiled on to himself in the dark of the night.

Was it a sign from God, or mere co-incidence, the text message he had received had been from Ruby and it portrayed similar feelings. Feelings he was just thinking about and remembering...