The Strange Mid-night at Railway Station

 👻 Once upon a time, there was a young boy named Rahul. He lived in a hostel in Delhi with his friend, far away from his family, pursuing his studies.

It was the beginning of the holidays, and that night, he was supposed to leave for his hometown. Excitement filled his heart as he packed his bags, double-checking everything with a smile. His train was scheduled for midnight, and after getting ready, he decided to take a short nap before leaving.

He set an alarm, lay down on his bed, and soon drifted into sleep. When he woke up, he felt fresh and full of energy. He quickly booked a cab and left for the railway station. The city that was usually alive and bustling now seemed strangely quiet under the dim streetlights.

As he stepped onto the almost deserted platform, a chill ran down his spine. Something about the silence felt wrong... unnaturally heavy, as if the air itself was watching him. He tried to shake off the feeling, convincing himself it was just his imagination.

Moments later, a train approached, its bright headlights piercing through the darkness. But what happened next made his heart skip a beat. The moment the train stopped, a blinding flash lit up the platform, and in an instant, every single person around vanished. Rahul stood frozen. He was the only one left.

Fear took over. Strange whispers began to echo through the station, and he could hear the eerie screeches of bats flapping somewhere above. A stray cat darted past him, its eyes glinting in the dim light. Shadows seemed to move where no one was standing.

He felt an invisible presence closing in from behind. His heartbeat quickened. The sound of soft footsteps came closer and closer, until he could almost feel someone’s breath near his neck. Trembling, he turned around with his eyes half-shut, bracing himself for whatever horror awaited him.

Then...he heard a familiar sound. A soft, rhythmic beeping.

He opened his eyes and found himself back in his hostel bed. The sound that had filled his dream was just his alarm ringing. He sat up, breathing heavily, still shaken but relieved. It had all been a dream.

With a nervous laugh, he got up, picked up his bags, and left for the station once again... this time, in the real world. When he reached the platform, his train was already waiting. He stepped aboard with a mix of relief and lingering fear, silently praying that his nightmare would never come true.

And as the train rolled out into the dark night, Rahul looked out the window, the dream still flickering in his mind, wondering if some dreams are more than just dreams.

~By Nimisha Sonare