The last word from railway colony always leaves at 11:45 pm.
Everyone in the small Town of Lonavala knew that. Miss it,you'd be stuck till afternoon. No autos.no cabs.no mercy.
Preesha checked her phone.11:30p.m.
"Great ", she muttered , clutching her bag tighter and quickening her pace .
The streetlights flickered as if they were arguing with the darkness . A cold wind brushed past her, carrying the faint smell of rain.
She hated being out late. But overtime at the bookstore had been unavoidable. Inventory night.
She turned the corner .
The bus stop stood lonely under a din yellow light. The metal bench was cold and empty .
Except it wasn't.
Someone was already sitting there.
A man in a dark hoodie . Head slightly bowed.
Hands tucked into pockets.
Preesha hesitated.
There was something unsettling about how still he was. No fidgeting . Not scrolling on a phone. Just...sitting.
11:35 p.m.
She forces herself to sit in the opposite end of the bench. The metal creaked .the man doesn't move.
A few seconds later , he spoke.
" You're late".
Her heart skipped.
" What?"
"You're late," he repeated ,voice calm. "The bus almost left without you".