One Night, One Promise

In a quiet train station, under the dim glow of flickering lights, Devesh checked his watch and sighed. The last train had just left.

He wasn’t alone. On the opposite bench, a woman sat, hugging her coat tightly. She had long dark hair and eyes that reflected the soft glow of the station lights. She glanced at him and smiled nervously.

“You missed the train too?” she asked.

Devesh nodded. “Yeah. I thought I had time, but… I guess time had other plans.”

She chuckled. “Same here. I ran, but the doors closed right in front of me.” She extended a hand. “I’m Nidhi, by the way.”

“Devesh.” He shook her hand. Her fingers were cold, and he noticed she was shivering slightly.

“Looks like we’re stuck here for the night,” she said, pulling her coat tighter.

Devesh looked around. The station was nearly empty. A sleepy security guard sat at a desk, barely paying attention. The vending machines hummed softly, their neon lights flickering.

Nidhi sighed. “It’s kind of romantic, don’t you think?”

Devesh raised an eyebrow. “Romantic?”

“You know… like in those old movies. Two strangers meet by accident, spend a magical night talking, and by morning, everything changes.”

He laughed softly. “That sounds nice. But in real life, people just sit in silence and check their phones.”

She tucked her phone into her pocket. “Then let’s not do that.”

He hesitated, then put his phone away too. “Alright. What do we do instead?”

“Let’s talk. Tell me something about you.”

Devesh thought for a moment. “Okay… I love old books. The kind that smell like time.”

Nidhi smiled. “That’s beautiful. Do you have a favorite?”

He leaned back, thinking. “There’s a poetry book I always carry. Want to hear a line?”

She nodded.

Devesh pulled a small book from his bag, flipped through the pages, and read softly,

“In the quiet of the night, I hear your name in the wind, whispering promises only the stars can understand.”

Nidhi sighed. “That’s… lovely.”

“What about you?” he asked.

She hesitated. “I dream of painting the sky.”

He looked at her, confused. “Painting the sky?”

She nodded. “Not literally. I mean… I want to capture moments. The way the sky changes colors at dawn, the way the sea shimmers under the moonlight… I want to paint feelings.”

Devesh watched her, fascinated. “That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.”

She laughed shyly. “Tell me another secret.”

He hesitated, then said softly, “I’m afraid of being forgotten.”

Her smile faded. “Why?”

He shrugged. “I guess… I want to matter. To someone.”

She was silent for a moment, then whispered, “You matter to me. Right now.”

Devesh felt something shift inside him. A warmth. A connection. “Tell me a secret too.”

Nidhi took a deep breath. “I’m scared of loving someone too much.”

He tilted his head. “Why?”

“Because love never stays. People leave. Or they change.”

Devesh’s voice was gentle. “Not always.”

She looked into his eyes. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”

He smiled. “I believe in moments. Like this one.”

The station was quiet, the air filled with unsaid words. The world outside didn’t exist—only them, in this tiny pocket of time.

Nidhi hugged her knees. “I wish this night could last forever.”

Devesh reached into his bag and pulled out a pen. “Then let’s make a promise.”

She watched as he took her wrist and wrote something on her skin.

“Meet me here. One year from now. Same time, same place.”

Her heart pounded. “You really think we’ll find each other again?”

“I do.” He met her gaze. “Do you?”

She smiled, tracing the words on her wrist. “Yes.”

The night felt like a dream, and when the first morning train arrived, they stood side by side, unsure how to say goodbye.

Devesh reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “See you in a year, Nidhi.”

She nodded. “See you in a year, Devesh.”

And just like that, they stepped onto different trains, carrying each other in their hearts.