꒰⑅ᵕ༚ᵕ꒱˖♡♡˖꒰ᵕ༚ᵕ⑅꒱

"साँझ, Saanjh; The day settling down, Evening."

꒰⑅ᵕ༚ᵕ꒱˖♡♡˖꒰ᵕ༚ᵕ⑅꒱

"Isn't the situation we are caught in is serendipitous...? Soo serendipitous that it touches and relaxes our rooh's, our souls."

Oh my goddess!! Is he really talking to me!?

Obviously stupid!! He is looking at you so he is definitely talking to you, dumb head!!

Not to look stupid in front of him by acting surprised, my upper body turned fully towards him in the right direction while my legs pointed diagonally with both of my hands now lying on top of my bag.

"Well, it depends on which particular situation you are talking about."

The smile on his face with amusement dancing on his face, it was clear that he wasn't expecting this kind of answer but nevertheless, he seemed to look pleased by the answer.

He turned to look at me and positioned himself in the same way as I was sitting. Momentarily his legs touched mine but soon he distanced them not before muttering an apology, thinking that the touch would've made me feel uncomfortable. I wasn't wrong when I entitled him as a gentleman as till now I have seen him being respectful to everyone.

Letting him know, that it's okay as things like such happens and the touch didn't made me uncomfortable, he proceeded further to speak what he was going to speak earlier.

"Oh I am talking abo-"

But before he could speak further, the professor entered the class earlier than expected breaking the link of our conversation once again.

Our Communication Skills lecturer is always late, but today, she graced us with her presence on the right yet the wrong timing.

Turning our bodies in the front, we both focused on what she was saying. Okay, I was trying to assume that he is listening to the lecture, even when he skillful used his phone without our sharp-eyed lecturer come to know about it. I assumed because I wanted to concentrate in the class, but his whatever game he's playing, was too distracting.

Let's also assume then, that I was able to concentrate in the class, not stating about how I didn't even know when the next chapter started. But as I said, I don't want to state, so shh!!

It was 6:15 when the lecturer gave us 5 minutes break. Without thinking twice, I took out my phone and opened it below the desk on the right side, the space between me and Aavyansh.

Opening WhatsApp, I texted on our group chat that they should leave and not wait for us, well I didn't mentioned Aavyansh as it seemed weird for me to do that, so I just wrote 'me', instead of us.

This lecture is supposed to be of 1 hour 45 minutes, but I don't know what our lecturer have eaten today for being soo energetic and enthusiastic, that the lecture got extended for more extra 30 minutes.

It was 6:45 pm when she dismissed the class. Hastily packing my bag and making sure that none of my belongings are left behind, I looked at Aavyansh to say 'Bye' when I found him looking at me already.

"Let's go together. Shall we...?"

He asked before walking down towards the end of the aisle. Walking down in the same direction but on the different aisle, I thought about his offer. I didn't wanted to refuse it but it doesn't mean that I want us to go together.

The major reason why I didn't wanted him to come with me, was I didn't knew where he lived. Just because it's little bit dark now and the sky will completely turn black till we reach the Railway Station, he doesn't have to come with me just for that purpose. I don't want him to waste his time and moreover, I am not afraid of dark or she afraid to travel alone late.

"You travel buy train...? Where do you live...? Tell me only if you want to."

Deciding to handle it diplomatically, I asked him a question, so that I could decide accordingly.

For me, it really very important to know whether the other person is feeling comfortable with me or not. So I let him know indirectly that it would be perfectly alright if he didn't answer my question. I wouldn't be offended.

I am not exaggerating when I am saying this but always after the day end lectures, he literally vanishes into thin air. I, Priya, Aarya and Vansh, are the ones who travel together after the lectures are done, that's the reason why I texted them to leave without me. On the other hand, Dev, Janvi and Aavyansh are the ones whom we had never travelled with.

I don't know about Dev, but as Janvi lives near the college, she doesn't have to travel that much. But me on the other side, I have to travel for one hour for the college. I meet Vansh, Aarya and Priya on the way sometimes while going to the college.

About Aavyansh, I have no idea about where this guy goes and this is the other reason why I am asking him about his mode of transportation because I have never seen him around after the college ends.

"At Bandra."

We were already outside the college premises when he said this. Even though I don't know him personally, it came as a shock to me.

"Bandra...? Seriously...?"

I said, looking shockingly at him. For him to go to Bandra, he have to take the same train route as ours, unless he takes Taxi or Bus. So it came to me as shock, when he said that he travels by train and lives at Bandra.

"Yeah. How do you go from here to Panvel...?"

Now I am not surprised when he said that. Everyone in the group knows where I live and I know where they live, expect for the two boys of the group, obviously. So the initial sudden shock, turned into the emotion of surprise, and then I was not-so-surprised when I realised that.

"Well, I usually take any train from Marine Lines, get down at Bandra, and then if there they have scheduled train directly to Panvel, I take that. And if not, I take the CSMT train, get down at Vadala and from there I easily get direct Panvel train."

Okay, so this might make me look like a crack head which definitely I am, but I feel awesome about myself when I change three or two trains.

I don't know whether it's because, I see soo many different people rushing, climbing, descending down the train, or whether it's because the amount of exercise I get which gives me an excuse for not exercising at home. Whatever the reason is, I feel great and that's what is important for me.

"What ticket you have...? First Class or Second Class...?"

"First Class."

"Great."

Great because we can travel together, by being in the same train coach, instead of two different as few weeks ago, my father without telling me purchased the First Class ticket pass for me.

Mumbai Local Trains have two different sections of coaches, The First Class and The Second Class. First Class ticket is expensive, compared to The Second Class so people prefer the latter one, which makes it easier for the First Class passengers to avoid the rush hour.

The rush hour is terrible. Very very terrible. I remember how once I travelled all the way from Vadala to Panvel, a journey of one hour, while standing in a packed train and ladies plunging forward or backward hitting their handbags accidentally to the people who are standing.

Luckily, it's not as much rush in the First Class coach, and moreover it makes easy for traveling with friends as the ladies and mens coaches aren't segregated as they do it for the Second Class coaches.

"You, Aarya, Priya and Vansh, go together right...?"

His question, well which didn't sounded like one, pulled me out of my thoughtsland. Nodding to answer his question, we both climbed inside the train and took the window seats which were vacant and after settling down, I looked at him who was right in front of me as our seats were facing each other.

"Yeah we go together and sometimes we come together to the college too. You say, you travel by the train, but I haven't seen you around."

Answering his question verbally now, I straightforwardly said what I was thinking about earlier.

"You haven't seen me anywhere near this station because I used to go in the opposite direction as my parent's house is in Churchgate. Now I live with my grandparents who live in Bandra. And moreover, sometimes I used to take Taxi, Bus or used to walk towards my house as it isn't that far from our college."

That makes sense. Nodding my head to indicate I understood what he meant, I looked outside.

The sky was not fully pitch black, as the beautiful colours of the evening portrayed their talent in the sky befor calling off for the day. I looked at those multiple bulbs, instead of stars shining on the top as the train passes through many high and big skyscrapers. The words in my head started rotating and dancing around my whole body.

"What you are thinking soo deeply about...?"

Smiling at his words which carried a tone revealing his curiousity about knowing what's going inside my head. So without any second thoughts or without looking at him, I started speaking.

"You were right. The moment is Serendipitous which relaxes our rooh, a fancy word of the soul. No complaining though!!

Anyways, I don't know which particular situation you were talking about earlier, but every single moment happening from last one month, is full of Serendipity. It's soo funny that we didn't knew each other when we met, and still we don't know each other well, but still, that doesn't makes us all less friendable.

At the first day of the college, whether it was in our college where we studied or the college we are studying now, I was soo anxious. The anxiety hit me soo badly. Luckily this time, it wasn't that bad as I saw you guys. I remember, the happiness I felt after seeing you all. I am soo thankful for this events and meeting with you guys. I am soo thankful.

Everything is soo magical, just this soon-always-ending evening. I don't want to jinx it, but I don't want this moment to be Ephemeral. I want this moment to last forever even when I know that every moment is Ephemeral and will soon end, just like this Saanjh."

It's weird how I didn't wanted to speak to him first but when he took the first step and started a conversation with me, suddenly the tape of my mouth starts working.

My words started overflowing without any kind of control when he asked about what I was thinking until the very end where I had to stop because the words seemed to block my eyesight and throat.

"Sorry for that. I just got overboard by my emotions."

"It's okay. It happens with everyone."

Smiling towards him in gratitude as his words comforted him, telling how it's okay to open up and get emotional. It's something which happens to us all and we shouldn't be ashamed of our emotions.

Instead of throwing shame on others for being too emotional, one should feel proud. Proud of one's self because showing your emotions requires courage. A lot of courage.

"By the way, it feels nice to know that I mean soo much to someone. Like we hadn't even talked. It feels good and amazing."

It didn't took long for my smile which was displaying gratitude earlier, to turn into a teasing one as my mind planned how to annoy hell out of him. Well, I don't want classes given by Vansh to go in vain.

"Acha! Don't worry. From onwards, the moment I see you, I blurt out every corny and cringey lines I know."

Looking at his horrified face, I bit my inner lips to stop myself from laughing. I tried soo hard not to burst out laughing when he spoke in his dramatic voice before gasping loudly as I know if I start laughing, I wouldn't stop it until we have to get down of the train and that will spoil my teasing plan. So a big NO to laughing.

"Oh please!! Don't do that!! Oh my god!!"

"You said you feel good when someone tells you that. So as a good friend, it's my duty."

"You will not do that!!"

"Oh! I certainly will do that.
I can't imagine my life without yo-"

"Oh My God!! Wow!! You are soo annoying."

"Welcome to the Annoying World, Mr. Aavyansh."

Not able to hold my laughter for any long, I burst out only for him to join me after few seconds of processing what actually happened. He looked kind of cute while smiling without any worries of the world.

Without any worries of the world...? Looking around us and realising that we are in the train, and not in our chatting personal place, I immediately stopped laughing and bit my inner lips in embarassment this time as I saw how the Aunty sitting on the different berth beside us was looking at us weirdly.

'Oh! You did a crime because you laughed with a boy and I am going to assume that he is your boyfriend because that's how the society thinks even when it's not their damn business. So suck it up!!'

Yeah that's what expressions she was giving to us, to be honest, to me. As if I was the one responsible for the so-called crime. The society is soo fucked up.

Rolling my eyes at her, when the feminist inside me lectured, how it's not my fault as she is the one who is having a problem with our interaction and how I shouldn't be embarassed because It's her business to mind. So, It's her problem and it's none of my business. That's that simple.

Turning my eyes back towards the honey-eyed boy who was now looking at me with eyes full of mischief, I passed him a sarcastic smile and stood up with my body language screaming, 'attitude'.

"Wow! That was really something."

He said while walking towards the door of the train as the next station was Bandra Station.

"What can I say now. Sometimes, I really can be a bad bitch."

Throwing a smirk towards him, I internally patted myself after I once again turned and saw how horrified and angry that Aunty was getting because of my behaviour back there. Saying that I was satisfied, would be an understatement.

She's lucky that she isn't someone closer to my age. She is an elder that's why our of respect, I rolled my eyes at her instead of showing my middle finger. If respect matter soo much, then many will criticize me for even rolling my eyes but I will ask them one simple question which is, what's the point of respect when you don't respect your own self...?

The look which was giving me, that horrid look, is a kind of look which a criminal gets. If I was naive, I would've really thought that I have done a crime as I talked and laughed with a boy. Probably, I wouldn't even talk to him the next day because of the fear of people. But no, I am not naive and my mom taught me to give a flying shit to this judgement people. Because once you start listening to them, their expectations from you will never cease down.

"Well, Loving that bad bitch avatar of yours."

I didn't even got the time to give him a reaction or a response as the train slowed down at the station and I would be lying if I said I wasn't happy. I didn't want him to see my shy smile because of his encouragement.

Getting out of the train, I turned around to quickly bid him a goodbye when I saw that they have scheduled a direct Panvel train, when he grabbed me by my shoulders and made me walk out of the crowd, towards the platform where Panvel train was supposed to come.

"Panvel Train is scheduled in less than one minute."

He said while leaving my shoulders as he came to stand in front of me. I immediately hid the shy smile which was the result of his words of encouragement and the touch. Not to come as a rude person, I gave him a small yet geniune smile which he happily reciprocated.

"I usually prefer to travel alone. But travelling with you, was fun. I really enjoyed it. Thank you."

I always thought that the slow-motion thing which they talk in movies or books about, is absolutely a big fat lie. But today, I realise that till some extent, it's true.

Time doesn't slows down, but your mind does because you don't want to leave that person. As you don't want to leave that person, your mind decides to take things slowly, to make the moments slow forgetting about the fast world which definitely is against the rule of the time.

'Time is the villain.' I declared when I saw the train marching inside the station. I couldn't figure out what kind of look he was giving as my mind was hazy because of my emotions, but out of many emotions wandering in his eyes, that particular emotion which stood out the most, looked very familiar.

It felt like home, a home I never had, when I look into honey-like eye which is wrapped in that familiar emotion.

Hesitation surely lingered in my eyes when the train was coming to the halt. I was contemplating what to do when my mom's worried face came in front of me. The rational voice somewhere present in my head, reminded me of how anxious my mom would be if I got late than already I was.

Immediately the haze of my mind vanished and I got out of the little world which was created by our staring into each other's eyes

Waving him a goodbye and moving towards the door of the train to climb up, I heard this mumbling voice which I guess wasn't supposed to be heard by me. But anyways I heard it making me smile widely.

"She's right. Every moment is Ephemeral and it's cruel. I didn't wanted this to end. But every Saanjh comes to an end no matter how beautiful it is."

꒰⑅ᵕ༚ᵕ꒱˖♡♡˖꒰ᵕ༚ᵕ⑅꒱

"Rooh ko jo sakhoon de, voh jadoo hai Saanjh main."

("The soul gets relief, by the magic of the evening.")

[A/n- Not a proper translation of the Hindi wordings though:(]

꒰⑅ᵕ༚ᵕ꒱˖♡♡˖꒰ᵕ༚ᵕ⑅꒱