The 7:10 Train

Ek nearly empty compartment. Cool grey sunrise barred windows se andar aa raha hai. Metal seats rattling. Tracks ki rhythmic awaaz.

INSPECTOR DEVRAJ (44), khaki uniform, cap, polished shoes, stern gaze ke saath ek seat par baitha hai. Uske paas police badge aur radio.

SAMNE wali seat par MAQSOOD (39), cheap raincoat mein, paseene se bheega hua, torn duffel bag ko pairon ke paas pakde hue. Aankhon se nazrein chura raha hai.

Devraj Maqsood ko dekhta rehta hai.

Naam?

Maqsood.

Poora.

Maqsood Ali.

Devraj uske duffel bag ki taraf dekhta hai.

Bag kiska hai?

Mera nahi, sahab. Lost property hai.

Lost property ko aise chipka ke kaun le jaata hai?

Main chipka nahi raha. Main... return karne ja raha tha.

Devraj radio uthata hai.

Kis station ka ticket hai?

Maqsood apni pocket se crumpled train ticket nikalta hai.

Dekh lijiye.

Devraj ticket le kar dekhta hai.

Platform pe CCTV mein tum hi the.

Maqsood ka gala sookh jaata hai.

Platform pe hazaar log hote hain, sahab.

Haan. Lekin suspicious bag ke saath sirf ek.

Devraj bag ki zipper par haath rakhta hai.

Kholo.

Nahi.

Nahi?

Matlab... main khol deta hoon.

Maqsood bag kholta hai. Andar ek folded newspaper.

Devraj newspaper nikalta hai. Uske beech tape se lapeta chhota package.

Yeh “lost property” hai?

Main ne bas uthaya tha.

Kahan se?

Bench ke neeche se.

Devraj newspaper unfold karta hai. Station ka naam aur platform number handwritten.

Yeh station ke andar ka kaam hai.

Main ko kuch nahi pata.

Jhooth mat bolo.

Sahab, main chor nahi hoon.

Devraj radio par button dabata hai. Static.

Station control... response do.

Static only.

Kis ke liye kaam karta hai?

Kisi ke liye nahi.

Phir itna paseena kyun?

Kyunki train chal rahi hai.

Devraj ek beat ke liye usko dekhta hai. Then:

Mazak kar raha hai?

Nahi, sahab.

Silence. Tracks rattling.

Sach bolo. Abhi.

Maqsood gehri saans leta hai. Aankhon mein darr.

Bag mera nahi tha.

Yeh toh pehle hi bola.

Nahi... main ne bag swap kiya tha.

Devraj ka expression hard.

Kis se?

Ek bachche se.

Devraj ka haath radio par jam jaata hai.

Kya?

Platform pe ek chhota ladka tha. Bas... akela. Uske haath mein yahi bag tha.

Bachcha courier tha?

Nahi! Nahi, sahab. Use use kiya ja raha tha.

Devraj bag ko dekhta hai, phir Maqsood ko.

Saboot?

Maqsood newspaper ka folded corner kholta hai. Andar ek bachche ki drawing: train, aadmi, aur naam.

Usne yeh mujhe diya.

Devraj drawing leta hai. Ek beat.

Tumne use chhoda?

Haan. Bheed mein. Dusri side.

Kyun?

Kyunki jo log is bag ke peeche the... woh bachche ko dhoondhte.

Devraj ki aankhon mein calculation. Phir samajh.

Smuggling ring.

Main ne bas usko bachaya.

Train ek station ke paas slow hoti hai. Door ke bahar platform blur.

Devraj radio ka signal try karta hai. Crackle.

Control, yahan Railway Police. Suspicious package confirmed. Internal network suspected. Child risk possible. Stand by.

Static, then weak response unheard.

Devraj bag ko newspaper mein dobara wrap karta hai.

Ab tum suspect nahi ho.

Toh?

Witness ho.

Maqsood ki saans dheemi hoti hai.

Woh bachcha safe hai?

Abhi tak agar tumne sahi jagah bheja hai, toh haan.

School ki taraf.

Devraj use dekhta hai. First time, his tone softens.

Naam kya tha uska?

Arif.

Devraj nods, radio ko mouth ke paas laata hai.

Control, repeat... child name Arif. Start search at platform perimeter.

Train phir accelerate karti hai.

Maqsood khidki se bahar dekhta hai. Dawn light uske chehre par padti hai.

Devraj uske paas baith jaata hai, bag ko secure karta hai.

Aaj tumne ek bachche ko bachaya.

Aur aap?

Main ab poora racket pakadunga.

Ek beat.

Sahab...

Haan?

Main sach mein chor nahi hoon.

Devraj usko dekhta hai, phir halka sa nod karta hai.

Aaj ke liye itna kaafi hai.

Train tracks par aur tez daudti hai. Compartment mein sirf metal ki awaaz, radio ki halki crackle, aur subah ki thandi roshni.