––:The Last Train Still Hasn't Stopped:–
(End Part)
It was a winter night. The fog was thicker than before. The station clock showed 10:58 PM. Arnab was sitting on that same old bench, just like always. Now no one asked him anything anymore. Everyone knew him — they called him "the man who waits."
A new tea seller had come to the station. One day he asked, "Brother, do you really wait for someone, or is it just a habit now?"
Arnab smiled a little and said, "At first, a person waits for someone. Then, the waiting itself becomes the person."
That night was very cold. The lights looked blurry through the fog. From far away, the sound of a train whistle could be heard. The last train was arriving.
Arnab slowly stood up. In his hand was that old watch. The watch had stopped working long ago, yet he looked at it every day.
The train entered the station and slowly stopped. The doors opened. A few people got down. The platform was almost empty.
Suddenly, through the fog, he saw a familiar figure. A girl wrapped in a white shawl stepped down from the train. He did not move. He just stood there.
The girl slowly walked toward Arnab. His heart was trembling. He felt like he was dreaming.
She came and stood right in front of him.
"Arnab…"
He would recognize that voice among thousands of people.
Arnab slowly said, "Meghla…? Is it really you?"
The girl smiled and said, "Didn't I tell you, one day I would stand in front of you?"
Arnab could not say anything. His eyes filled with tears.
"Where were you all this time…?"
Meghla looked up at the sky and said, "I was in a place where no one feels pain anymore. A place from where no one needs to return. But I made a promise, so I had to come."
Arnab said in a trembling voice, "You won't leave again this time… will you?"
Meghla stayed silent for a moment, then said, "Everyone has to catch a train one day, Arnab. Some earlier, some later. When you come, I will be waiting for you at the station."
Suddenly, the train whistle blew again. The fog became thicker. Arnab wiped his eyes for a moment.
Then he looked ahead — no one was there. The platform was empty. Only fog and cold wind remained.
On the bench lay a white shawl.
Arnab slowly picked it up. Inside the shawl, there was a small piece of paper. On it was written:
"No more hiding. This time we truly met.
Now don't wait anymore.
Live a little for yourself now.
I will wait for you at the station beyond the last train.
— Meghla"
After that day, Arnab did not go to the station every day anymore.
But once a month, on that same date, at 11 PM, he still goes to the station and sits on that same bench.
People say, Earlier, they used to see a man sitting there alone.
Now sometimes, in the fog, they see two people sitting on the bench.
No one speaks. Yet it feels like a lot is being said.
Because, Not all waiting comes to an end.
Some waits sit quietly between two worlds.
The End…
Or maybe not the end.