Chapter 1
Balbir woke up in the middle of the night. He was sweating profusely in the freezing night of the January. His lips were chapped and throat went dry he tried to get up from the bed but his legs were wobbly. On his wobbling legs he went towards dinning room there on the dinning table sat a jug full of water.
He filled a glass of water and start gulping the water as if he was thirsty from a month. He started moving towards his room but it was getting difficult for him to move with great difficulty he reached his room he was crying heavily all the while till laying down on his bed but there was no one to listen to his cries.
He lived alone in the house. last week he bought a new house in a town far from the Mumbai city. The problem he was going through didn’t get any better even after shifting to the new house. He was crying even harder on his own condition. It was like his body was giving up hopes to move or to do anything he wasn’t in any condition to move. When he fell asleep while crying he don’t know.
In the morning milk man was ringing the doorbell again and again and knocking the door at the same time. Balbir woke up with great difficulty and opened the door only to come face to face with milk man and vegetable vendor with fresh vegetables packet in his hands. And from straight up was coming his neighbor Kishan Lal uncle. Milkman and vegetable vendor was astonished seeing Balbir’s face. Coming near Balbir uncle said ‘’ why your face look so flushed and swollen ‘’.
Balbir was confused seeing all their confused faces but when uncle asked him about his face then he realized that he himself was feeling stuffiness on his face but because of the commotion on his front door he went straight to open the door without even looking at his face in the mirror. He wasn’t able to recognize his own face in the mirror because of all the swelling and red blotches. Balbir's eye's were wide awake due to sudden shock .
Balbir remembered that yesterday he cried before sleeping and maybe due to continuous rubbing of face to wipe the tears his face must have been blistered . Balbir stepped out of his room and ensured everyone that he will recover soon and advised them to not worry. Balbir ate light breakfast and got ready after a pleasant bath and went for a stroll in market. While strolling Balbir took turn for the only national college in the district however usually he used to go for airing on the trail leading to the forest located on the outskirts of the district although, today he wanted to wander in the district .
As soon as Balbir reached near the college, he stopped , there was hustle - bustle in college . Due to college's commotion , he took refuge under the Neem's tree located outside of college. He was watching every passer by from there . After spending some time there , Balbir decided to return to his home . Sun was setting, evening was getting close and Balbir's cold sweat was broking out by even the thought of the last night's incident . He was tensed and was taking strolls hysterically in the gallery. Now he acted like a sacredly cat even with the name of 'sleep' . Somehow Balbir spent that night .
Next morning he took the firm decision of returning to Mumbai after taking the last breathe in the district. It was 12:30 pm in noon and Balbir set off after dressing up nicely for the last tour in the district . Balbir bought some eatables for the journey and went home through the college road . While he was passing by the main gate of college his gaze fell on a girl who was going in the college .
Balbir hesitated when he witnessed her going into the college . Balbir hands were occupied with the bags of eatables and he wasn't able to pick the cell phone kept in his shirt's pocket . He looked at the girl with the needy eyes with the intent of help who stopped after hearing the ring of his cell phone . The girl came closer to Balbir and took one of the bags from his hands and stood aside in a corner .
Balbir picked up the phone however unfortunately the call was ended . Balbir thanked the girl and went to his house . After walking a few steps when Balbir looked back , the girl wasn't there , maybe she went inside the college . After arriving home Balbir packed his stuff and departed for the station . The train was going to arrive in few minutes , till then Balbir gulped down hot tea and sat on the bench . After five minutes the train arrived at the station.
