Nightmare

It was my first journey by train all alone. When dropped at the station by my cousin, I saw a huge crowd waiting at the station. Like a drop in the ocean, I quickly merged with the crowd, and patiently waited for the arrival of the train. Soon came the grating voice of the loudspeaker, “The Rajadhani Express from Delhi to Trivandrum scheduled to leave the station by 9 pm would be late by one hour’! I went cold at the thought of another long wait in the sweltering heat of a summer night. Amid an undulating mass and deafening holler and roar, it would be hell tied there for one more hour. The cry of babies fell in my ears like the squeal of piglets. Youngsters busied themselves on their cell phones, sending missives to their loved ones or chatting with their pals. I sat away secluded, inhaling the soot and the dust, and looking vacantly at the curl of smoke from the grumpy looking man’s cigar sitting opposite to me lazily. When his red falcon eyes fell on me, I withdrew more into cover, regretting once more, being a woman! Drawing a deep desperate breath, I thought of the risks of travelling alone by a night train, and it made my guts contract. Finally, when the train came hurtling, elbowing my way through the mass of men, I got into the compartment somehow, and found myself, among total strangers. Shoving my suitcase between legs of people, and pushing it under the seat, I sat near the window. All my former fears resurfaced with ugly pincers. Being late, all readied themselves to sleep. Though I lay down with my eyes closed, I couldn’t wink an eye, every little sound and movement, sending chills down my spine. It was the most nightmarish night I can ever think of! the sky, inky black moon veiled by stygian clouds~ ants of panic creep.