‘Yeah, sure. We will … at the right time.’ To be honest though, I don’t know why I don’t want Nia and Vedant to actually meet. Initially, I’d planned to make them meet tonight, but the moment I started chatting with Kiana on AILENA, and then got Vedant’s support on the matter, I just knew I wanted to wait a little longer before introducing Nia to Vedant. The human brain really works in a weird and complicated way. I’m not sure if I’ll have the ‘when you know, you know’ feeling. But I don’t want to talk about my relationship with Nia anymore. So, I change the topic. ‘Any plans for Christmas Eve?’ I ask Vedant.

‘Just a quiet evening at home with my daughter and Chulbul. How about you?’

‘We’re apartment hunting in Bandra.’

‘Okay. That’s good. Let’s hope you find something.’

‘Yeah.’

We sit and chat for about an hour before Vedant has to leave.

‘Well, it was great catching up with you, as always,’ I say as we leave the restaurant.

‘Same here, dude. Take care, and Merry Christmas!’ he replies, giving me a hug.

‘Merry Christmas to you too, and here’s a little something I brought for the baby.’ I hand over a present wrapped in red paper and topped with a green satin ribbon.

‘Thanks, man! Bye!’

‘Bye!’

After Vedant leaves, I make my way towards the Church Gate railway station on the Western line. I’m headed to Bandra now. I had asked Nia to join me here so we could take the train to Bandra, but she doesn’t like using public transport. I, however, love taking the local train whenever I can, even though I can afford to use a private helicopter instead.

I barely have to wait before the local train pulls into the station. It is silent and unoccupied, quite unlike the typical Mumbai local train, and as it glides along the tracks, I find myself wondering about the passengers getting on and off at the stations along the way, their stories briefly intersecting with my life. There’s a sense of freedom in believing that the train can take you anywhere. And in this little moment where I’m sitting alone in a largely empty compartment, I find joy in the simple pleasures of life. This journey to Bandra becomes the very destination I want to be stationed at.

Have you ever just sat by yourself and soaked in the moment? Just felt the gentle breeze on your face and the warm morning sun in your soul? Have you listened to the white noise in the background stretch on until the end of space? Have you ever let yourself be so present in the moment that neither does the past surface from the depths of your heart nor does the future knock on the doors of your mind?