He was out of breath. Bad chest congestion was doing him in for last couple of weeks. The 15 Kg suitcase and two carry bags were not helping either. Somehow he managed to climb those zillion stairs reaching to the first level of metro station.
Collecting some breath after getting the token, he rushed for the platform. There was a train stalled already, with doors waiting for 10 seconds to get closed. He was about to enter when he saw the terminal station, it was bound to, wasn't Noida. He was confused wondering whether he had landed on a wrong platform. He asked a middle-aged person sitting comfortably in a seat in front of him-"Uncle would this train go to Noida?". The man showed expression of being clueless.
Before even asking other alongside him, they were already throwing the same expression. He had got it correctly from the person sitting on counter, he remembered- "Go to Platform 2". And here he was on platform 2 but utterly confused. It wasn't like either he was new to delhi or even the metro for that sake. Yet he was undecided what to do standing a feet away from entrance which would close in another 5 seconds from now.
Just when he had made up his mind to board the next train, a soft voice from the left, from the seat he couldn't see echoed- "Hey come in! Board this one! you will have to change at Yamuna Bank". He saw a spectacles clad, glossed lips girl making gesture to him with her left hand. In her right hand was a book that had some mathematical figures and a picture of a Computer.
Then the voice spoke again- "Even I have to change metro at YamunaBank". And his legs moved in with the luggage. The door almost closed instantaneously. He saw the complete face. He wanted to say much more but could mutter just "Thanks". She smiled, meaning a "Welcome" and got back to her book. He settled himself in a seat just opposite to her, yet struggling with his luggage.
The train started..the journey was long...more than 30 stations in between...
...to be continued..... Part 2
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