- a story
I lay there in the blue light listening to the rhythm of the train. The rest of the passengers were all fast asleep. I couldn’t sleep. It would soon be time for me to disembark. Outside it was raining. The drizzle made faint patterns on the window pane. My journey was about to end. I smiled at the thought. Exhilaration filled me, pushing away the last traces of sorrow that had lingered.
I looked at the time. Before long the train would start its long assiduous crossing across the Ganges. On previous occasions the mere thought of the train snaking its way across the river filled me with dread, but not today. I wondered how the Ganges looked right then. Had the rains changed its color to a murky brown?? It made no difference. In the dark night everything looked black anyway.
The sound of the train changed to a loud clanging one as it entered the bridge spanning the river. It was time. I got up and made my way to the door. With effort I eased the door open, looking out at the dark night. A cool breeze brought some of the rain water in refreshing me. I felt light and free. I wanted to laugh in joy. I was going home, to him.
The everlasting love that had eluded me would be mine in a matter of moments. My Eternal Love, for whom I ached, with an unbearable longing, was waiting for me. The Dark One, for whom I had waited so long, would take me in his arms and never let me go, ever. In them I would find the happiness I had been searching for all my life. I smiled and took a step forward. I was still smiling when the cold water swallowed me.
* * *
This is a prologue of a short/long story or novella or even a novel (too ambitious for the lazy moi though!) that I might or might not (the possibilities of this happening are greater) write tonight (no way!), tomorrow, next week/ month/year or in some distant future. An epilogue might or might not come up one of these days. Till such time as that, this remains a flash fiction at 300 words leaving you all free to speculate on the whys and wherefores! 
Wow!! Beautifully written!! Loved the way it flowed..
…but I want to know all the hows and whys also.
Thanks IHM!
You will have to guess, won’t you, for now I mean!
Beautiful narration as always! Hope to read the full story/novella/novel soon
Thank you Basanta
I hope I have the patience to sit down and write!
If ever you get around to completeing that novel… please let me have your first autographed copy !!! i would love to buy !!!!!
loved reading this !
Sorry Hitch. The first one is promised. But you will definitely get my autographed one.
That was captivating!
Thank you Priya
Second autographed copy for me please, Shail
Engrossing narration. Hope you do complete the novel.
Well Pal, you have to move down one place!
I hope I do too!! 
I hope you do complete it soon. Gripping narration as always!
Sigh, I hope I do. I will have to get out of Farmville and the rest!
Beautiful as always…;-)
Thanks Meera!
Wow Shail,for a person who writes so well
it would not be not difficult writing a novel
and soon many writers would throw in the towel
and the whole literary world at your feet grovel.
Superb prologue. Take it up and forward.
Now now Govind, please go easy with those words. I haveto stay well-grounded if I have to write!
Thank you so much for the encouragement.
Hooked and dangling , Shail
Thanks MRC!
Oooohhh!!!
Loving the challenge of thinking up the WHY’s and HOW’s.
But given my limited literary skills, I’d rather rely on you to give out the answers
Waiting for the Novel/Novella with bated breath …
Momofrs, please breathe easy. This is going to take time!
Supreme writing, Shail! You have me hooked and craving for more. Hope you complete the novel soon. Wishing you all the best
Thanks so much Deeps for the wishes. I will need them!
Nice! Write it please. I’ll definitely buy a copy
Ahhh Ritu, I will have to now!!
reads like a film script…look forward to reading the book and watching the movie
Film script?? Lol, can they get all those thoughts into one??
You are thinking of making it into a movie?? :O omg!
Leaves me with a lot of Whys and wherefores. The flow is good… For a moment, it felt like talking of death, especially with the Dark One phrase…Would you continue? Please, pretty pretty Please?
Well Rashmi, seeing as we have how similar our thoughts run on a lot of things, I would have expected nothing less from you. Yes, you got it nailed.
I do hope I continue too.
Though I gave up English Literature some thirty years ago, reading your passages or posts, I feel, will revive my interest in literature for you have a style of narration that makes a compelling reading. Carry on Shail!
Thank you Nasir for the appreciation!
Were you a literature student by an chance??