The Last Train Home

Peeli tube lights. Dheemi ghoomti ceiling fan. Bahar platform signage ki thodi si flicker. Bench, tea stall counter, do kulhads, timetable board.

BHARAT (62), wool cap aur cloth bag ke saath, bench par baitha hai. Uske haath mein TRAIN TICKET hai.

Woh ticket ko dekh raha hai.

TEA STALL WAALA frame mein nahi aata. Sirf counter aur kulhad dikhte hain.

Door se footsteps.

NAVEEN (35), office shirt, tired eyes, defensive posture, andar aata hai.

Papa, raat ke 10 baje bulaya hai. Kya emergency hai?

Emergency nahi. Zaroori baat hai.

Train pakadni thi toh seedha bol dete.

Haan... train hi toh hai.

Naveen sighs. Bench ke edge par baithta hai, distance bana ke.

Aur paise ka kya scene hai? Agar koi problem hai toh batao.

Sab kuch paise se hi toh shuru hota hai tumhare ghar mein?

Mere ghar mein? Papa, main aapka beta hoon. Employee nahi.

Steps again.

KUNAL (33), casual kurta, gentle expression, packed lunch box ke saath enter karta hai.

Main late toh nahi ho gaya?

Hero entry perfect timing pe hoti hai.

Lunch box laaya hoon. Aapne khaya hoga socha.

Waah. Family reunion aur tiffin bhi.

Baith jao, dono.

Kunal bench par dusri side baithta hai. Lunch box uske ghutne par.

Main kal subah ki train se jaa raha hoon.

Kahan?

Kahin bhi. Ab bas thoda change chahiye.

Papa, aap aise achanak...

Achanak? Inko achanak ka shauk hai.

Naveen.

Kya? Main practical baat kar raha hoon. Daawai, bills, ghar ka kharcha—

Aur main?

Silence.

Papa, aap tension mat lo. Main dekh lunga.

Tum? Tum dekh loge? Tum toh bas bolte ho.

Aur aap? Aap bas judge karte ho.

Main? Main office sambhaal raha hoon. Main hi sab kar raha hoon.

Haan, aur main kya? Main kya kar raha tha jab aap ghar se nikal ke “busy” ho gaye the?

Busy? Main bills bhar raha tha!

Aur main ghar sambhaal raha tha!

Ghar sambhala? Papa ke saath chipak ke rehna ghar sambhalna nahi hota.

Aur aapka “main bada hoon” bolke sab chhod dena bhi zimmedari nahi hoti.

Bharat dono ko dekhta hai. Thaka hua, hurt.

Bas. Bahut ho gaya.

Papa, aap chup rahiye. Main aur Kunal settle kar rahe hain.

Haan. Yehi toh problem hai.

Bharat apna cloth bag kholta hai. Andar kapde, ek folded paper, aur ek chhoti KEY RING.

Kunal aur Naveen dono alert.

Main train se jaane wala nahi tha.

Kya?

Ticket bas bahana tha. Tum dono ko yahan bulane ka.

Bharat ticket bench par rakh deta hai.

Aur ye ghar ki keys.

Woh keys table-like tea counter par rakh deta hai.

Papa, aap kya kar rahe ho?

Jo pehle karna chahiye tha.

Aap humein test kar rahe the?

Nahi.

Main dekh raha tha. Ki mere baad tum log ek dusre ko choose karte ho ya sirf apni-apni duty.

Papa...

Main thak gaya hoon, Naveen. Main beech ka deewar ban gaya tha. Ek ghar mein do ghar.

Aisa mat bolo.

Toh kya bolun? Ki mujhe paise chahiye? Mujhe dawa chahiye? Mujhe koi aur chahiye?

He looks at both.

Mujhe bas itna batao—kya aaj ke baad bhi tum bhai ho?

Silence.

Ceiling fan ki awaaz aur gehri lagti hai.

Kunal slowly lunch box kholta hai. Ek roti nikal kar Bharat ke saamne rakh deta hai.

Pehle khana kha lo.

Naveen keys ko dekhta hai. Phir Kunal ko.

Papa... ghar aapka bhi hai.

Aur Kunal ka bhi.

Aur aapka bhi, bhai.

Bharat ki aankhen nam. Woh hansi dabata hai.

Bas... itna bolne mein itne saal lag gaye?

Aapne train ka drama kyun kiya?

Kyuki seedha bolta toh tum dono sunte nahi.

A beat.

Announcement speaker se distant platform call.

ANNOUNCEMENT (V.O.)

Train number...

Bharat uthta hai. Ticket bench par hi rehne deta hai.

Woh keys ko dekhte hue dono beton ke beech se guzarta hai.

Ghar ka faisla tum log karo.

Main bas itna chahta hoon... ki jab main wapas aaun, ghar ek ho.

Naveen aur Kunal ek dusre ko dekhte hain. First time, no defense. Only guilt and hope.

Bharat exits toward the platform light.

Kunal lunch box band karta hai.

Naveen keys uthata hai.

Dono bench ke dono ends par baith jaate hain—thoda door, lekin saath.