Introduction: The Mysterious Train Ride
Aarav adored going on train travel. The rhythmic clang of wheels on the tracks, the constantly shifting scenery, and the low muttering of hushed chats helped to make each trip thrilling. But this specific evening felt different.
The last train from Delhi to Mumbai, a long overnight ride, had been boarded by him. Except for an old gentleman near the window, the compartment was curiously vacant. Aarav sat down, put his earbuds in, and shut his eyes.
The Unseen Presence
He woke to a cool feeling sometime past midnight. The train was in motion, but the lights flickered off and the air was strangely chilly. He glanced at the aged man, still seated in the same place gazing outside, and fell away.
Anxious, Aarav rose to inspect the neighboring compartments. all were vacant. Not even one traveler. Not even seen a railway employee.
Rushed he returned to his seat. The senior guy turned and grinned—that of knowledge and strangest.
A Chilling Revelation
"They got off,&ash; the senior stated.
Aarav scowled. "Where? The train did not stop.
The smile of the elderly man spread. "O'But it did." Simply not for the alive.
Aarav shivered. He chuckled nervously, attempting to release the anxiety. "Sir, it's a good joke."
The aged man only turned back on the window. Aarav opted to look at his telephone for measurement—zero bars. 70%, the battery was now dead.
The Passenger Who Never Left
Resolved to find someone, he headed toward the engine. The rather dark passageways ran on forever; the train seemed longer than previously. Every door he opened led to yet another empty compartment.
After that, he arrived at the engine room. There was nothing in the driver's seat.
Panic started to spread through me. Turning back, he sprinted back to his seat. But the old man had disappeared upon his coming.
Rather on the dusty seat lie a March 22, 1985 newspaper. The headline ran as:
"Near Nashik, Train 245 Derails 86 Dead, One Body Never Found."
Turning the page, Aar opened his trembling hands. There hung a fuzzy picture of a young guy staring back at him.
He was the source.
The train whined roughly. The lights died. And the aged man's voice whispered in the darkness.
"Welcome back, Aarav."
Conclusion: A Journey with No Return
The next morning, Train #245 arrived at its destination. The railway staff found a seat covered in dust, a decades-old newspaper resting on it.
But no sign of any passenger named Aarav.