I stood on the platform, watching the minutes tick by with an restless anticipation that seemed to echo through every fiber of my being. The train was late, and my mind was already racing ahead, envisioning the journey, worrying about getting a seat, and pondering the endless what-ifs that usually swarm my thoughts.

As the train finally pulled in, I felt a surge of adrenaline. The doors slid open, and a wave of passengers spilled out, followed by an influx of new travelers scrambling to secure their spots. I squeezed into the crowded compartment, navigating through the sea of unfamiliar faces.

The initial chaos slowly gave way to a fragile sense of calm. All calm, unless you’re using Bombay Railways. I found a spot, claimed it as my own, and let out a soft sigh of relief. As the train picked up speed, the scenery outside blurred into a kaleidoscope of colors, and the faces around me became a study in contrasts.

A businessman typing away on his laptop, his brow furrowed in concentration. A young couple holding hands, their eyes locked on each other. A group of rowdy friends, probably happy and excited for their first AC train ride, laughing and joking. A boy playing with a baby. And some looking around and staring at people like me.

I eavesdropped on snippets of conversation, weaving stories around the fragments I overheard.

As the train rumbled on, my mind began to wander. Thoughts swirled, a jumble of fears, dreams, and uncertainties. The calmness was short-lived; my overthinking mind soon took over.

The train pulled into 3 stations before it pulled into my stop. The doors slid open with a rush of cool air. Passengers including me rushed to exit, and new ones flooded in. The pace quickened, the energy shifting from languid to frantic.

I sighed with a quick relief of successfully getting down at my stop but I stopped and watched, mesmerized, as people hastened to their destinations — or so it seemed.

Everyone seemed to know where they were going, But more importantly how to reach their destination, what they were doing. They moved with purpose, with direction. Their lives appeared mapped out, each step leading to the next.

And then it hit me — a pang of unease, a feeling of being utterly lost.

I wait for a second, people going speedily to where they’re going, wondering… am I the only one around who doesn’t know the rule?

(This isn’t about a destination after the train journey; it’s about the journey of life itself.)