माधवपुर Part - 4

 "Passengers please note, Train number 5959, Kaamrup Express from Howrah to Dibrugarh is going to arrive on platform number one shortly."

The next station from Madhavpur was Tezpur but it was not certain whether the train would stop there or not. Abhishek was worried since morning after reading the notice issued by the railway in the newspaper. Finally, he heaved a sigh of relief.

After some time the train reached the station. He went near the platform and started looking carefully at the passengers getting off but not a single passenger got off the train.

After some time...

"Passengers please note, Train number 5959, Kaamrup Express from Howrah to Dibrugarh is ready to depart from platform number one."

On hearing this, Abhishek's last hope also broke. He sat down on the ground disappointed and sad.

"Come on, Abhishek. Your friend has not come, stay in my quarter tonight. Leave tomorrow morning." Anil Barua said while keeping his hand on Abhishek's shoulder.

After Madhavpur station was closed, Anil was transferred to Tezpur. He was to take charge in two days and the government had already arranged for his accommodation.

The village mansion was deserted. Now even the servants did not go there to clean it. There was only Hema aunty who would go for a walk in the garden once a day.

"I think he did not board the train, it would be better to go home and talk to him over the phone tomorrow." Anil's words gave Abhishek an idea.

"Bhaiya, will the passenger chart of the train be there at the station?"

"There is no use in that, if he had boarded, he would have definitely got down here."

"I want to see the list once." Abhishek insisted.

"Let's go to the TTE then, let's see."

Getting up from the platform, Abhishek started going towards the room next to the enquiry counter.

"Hey, Sanjay ji. Do you have the passenger list of the train that just left?" Anil asked as he went near the TTE.

"Yes sir, I have the list."

"Was any passenger going to get down here?"

"Not here but there was a reservation for Madhavpur. But the train did not stop there..."

Interrupting the TTE, Anil said, "And that passenger did not get down here either. Do one thing, contact someone in the train and find out. He may have fallen asleep on his seat."

After hearing so much, a new hope arose in Abhishek's mind.

"Don't worry Abhishek, if he is in the train, we will definitely find him. Come and sit here." Anil said pointing towards the chair attached to the table and he himself sat on the other side of the table.

"Will you have tea? I will order it."

"Sanjay ji, please tell Binod to give him two teas and find out quickly, it is very late."

Abhishek looked at his watch, it was half past twelve.

"How is Manju?" Anil asked.

"It's okay brother, Nandini takes good care of him. Sometimes she tries to find you guys but mom and dad manage it." Abhishek replied.

In the meantime the tea vendor came inside the room and then Sanjay also entered the room.

"Sir, I talked to someone named Raghav Sharma. He is not on the seat but the passengers sitting next to him are saying that he left his seat at Madhavpur."

"What??!" Abhishek was shocked. He immediately got up from his seat.

"Abhishek! We cannot go there. You know the situation there, right? I will call the village, someone will go and bring him."

"How could he have got down when the train did not stop there?" Anil was not able to understand this.

"Was the chain pulled?"

"No sir, there has been no chain pulling."

"Okay, thank you."

"Abhishek, I will call you and come, you finish your tea." Saying this Anil left the room.

Second day

Till the second day he was searched everywhere in the station, but no one found him, nor did the villagers see any unknown person. Finally everyone got tired and went to their respective homes.

Raghav had given Abhishek his office number and told him to call on this number if he wanted to send any message. Abhishek quickly searched his pocket and took out the paper which had the office number.

"Hello, I am Abhishek speaking from Assam."

"Yes, please tell." A girl's voice comes from the other side.

"Raghav ji, he was supposed to come to Assam, didn't he come?"

"Yes, he has gone to Bhopal for some important work."

"But he had booked a ticket to come here."

"Yes, but that train has been cancelled." Nah?"

"Yes.. but..", Abhishek's voice started faltering.

"Yes, I will pass on your message to them. Thank you.", saying this the girl hung up the phone.

"What happened?" came Anil's voice from behind.

"He did not come at all." Abhishek said looking down with his sad eyes.

Anil said making a face in irritation, "Wow!! We are looking for a man since last night who did not come here at all."

Abhishek had convinced everyone at home with great difficulty for investigation, now he was feeling embarrassed. Lowering his eyes he said, "Brother I am going home."

Seeing Abhishek entangled in a storm of emotions Anil hugged him, "Abhishek we cannot run away from our fate, I am the one who is most sad. When the police here could not do anything then what can a man do. Now we have to leave behind what has happened and move forward. This is called life."

Abhishek was crying. He was sad about losing his sister, but his heart was not ready to believe that Urmila had committed suicide. He was feeling helpless, after all what could he do.

With this sorrow in his heart, he started walking towards the bus stand and Anil kept looking at him until he disappeared from his sight.