THE PHANTOM EXPRESS

When Shakya arrived at Bandel Junction, it was already too late. The minute hand of the clock betrayed him; it was already thirty minutes past midnight. Shakya worked as an accountant in a shopping mall.

The Puja Week was approaching, and this year's Durga Puja had been recognized as a World Heritage site. Moreover, COVID had recently bid farewell to the people, resulting in a huge craze for shopping. Everywhere, there was a rush to complete decorations before the arrival of "Maa." Shakya found himself deeply engaged in work, especially since their shopping mall was thriving, requiring some employees, including Shakya, to stay for overtime duty. As the owner's most trustworthy employee, Shakya was the last attendant in the mall that night.

After locking the mall gate, he hurried towards the station, hoping to catch the last known train, the 11:30 Up, Bandel-Howrah local. However, upon arrival, the station was already deserted, except for beggars who were deep in sleep.

"Where have the guards gone?" Shakya wondered aloud. Opening a train tracking app, he discovered that the last train for his destination had already passed at exactly 12 AM.

"Looks like I have to spend the night here," Shakya muttered to himself in irritation. He settled on a regular bench, scrolling through Facebook, his ultimate hope for passing the night.

Suddenly, he remembered his mother, waiting for him at home without having dinner. Shakya called her, explaining his situation. Though concerned, his mother trusted him to spend the night at the station, assuring her he would catch the first train the next morning.

Tomorrow being Sunday, his working shift would change, and someone else would handle the upcoming week leading to Puja. Shakya would be free from next week until Durga Puja, like a Puja Vacation for him.

Unbeknownst to Shakya, his mother had a strange feeling, but she chose not to worry him with the miraculous stories of earlier days. She simply reminded him to be careful and wished him good night.

Back at the station, Shakya returned to scrolling through Facebook reels during his off-time. Unaware that drowsiness was creeping in, he continued scrolling until his eyes felt heavy.

As he considered sleeping on the bench, a disturbance began. A middle-aged man, heavily dressed in a woolen cap and shawl, sat beside Shakya. Wondering why the man was so bundled up when it wasn't that cold, Shakya assumed he was a regular beggar or a coolie spending the night.

Attempting to avoid the man, Shakya moved to an empty bench. However, the man followed and asked, "Who are you?"

"I am a man, as you can see," Shakya replied with a smile.

The man continued, "I understand that. So, what brings you here? You seem like a decent family boy. Why are you here?"

Shakya explained his situation, stating that the last train had left by the time he arrived. The man initially thought Shakya had come to drink due to the empty space but realized Shakya was genuine.

"There is still a train; it will arrive shortly," the man assured Shakya.

"In the middle of the night? Tell me everything! My phone shows that the last train left at 12 sharp... What time is it now? It's two o'clock. Can I still catch a train now?" Shakya inquired.

"There is still a train available; I can hear its sound. It arrives every night for this reason," the man replied.

"Will it stop at Bhadeshwar?" Shakya asked.

"Certainly."

Checking his watch, Shakya heard a faint horn and saw a point-sized light source growing larger. Thanking the man, he noticed the platform was now covered in thick fog. As he expressed gratitude, people began gathering, and through the fog, a train arrived.

The rusted engine and compartments with broken windows revealed its age—likely 10 to 15 years old. Despite its old architecture, Shakya eagerly boarded the train, securing a seat near the window. Attempting to call his home-servant Subol proved futile due to a network issue. Shakya accepted it as a network fault and settled in for a relaxing journey.

Shakya couldn't understand how that happened before that train would depart. Passengers were crowding the train compartment, struggling to find seats. Shakya tried to mingle with the passengers nearby, but they were peculiar, not speaking or gossiping, sitting quietly as if empty dolls. Their faces were obscured in darkness.

All together, an eerie silence prevailed with a cool breeze. The train began to move. Shakya attempted to engage with the passenger beside him, but there was no response, as if they were spending their time meaninglessly, lost in their own worlds.

Suddenly, when Shakya's shoulder touched the adjacent passenger, it felt as if an electric shock surged through his body. The person seemed devoid of flesh, giving the impression of being a mere silhouette. There was an aura of defeat about them.

In this frosty atmosphere, if such a thing happened with someone else, they might have been scared and opted to get off the train by a jump, but not our Shakya. He faced those ghostly figures without flinching.

Amidst the mysterious silence in the train, Shakya observed the peculiar passengers who seemed deaf and dumb. Their stillness, combined with the obscure darkness, added an eerie element to the journey.



As the eternal cold persisted, Shakya found himself sweating, gripped by an unknown terror that permeated the air. Attempting to break the silence, he forcefully engaged with a seemingly undead passenger, only to be met with unresponsiveness and an aura of defeat.


The train abruptly stopped in the middle of nowhere, leaving Shakya to believe it was a routine signal issue. Lights flickered, illuminating the compartment, revealing lively passengers engaged in conversations. Shakya, although relieved, refrained from joining in, still unable to connect with them. No internet signal persisted, hindering his attempts to contact his family.



As the train resumed its journey, a quarrel erupted, escalating into a violent fight. Shakya, attempting to mediate, faced fury from the passengers who pushed him back. Their touch sent an otherworldly sensation through him, making him step back in shock.

Amid the chaos, an old man was suddenly pushed from the running train, and the last shrill cry echoed hauntingly. Lost in the echoes of the cries, Shakya saw that those passengers had transformed into skeletons, overwhelming his senses.




Morning rays and water drops revived Shakya; the tea vendor noted, "Murmuring strange things in your sleep, caught between two worlds."

Shakya, disoriented, mumbled, "Train... skeletons... felt so real."



Shakya, now sitting up, shared his surreal train experience. "Passengers turned into skeletons, a fight, an old man pushed... like a nightmare."

The tea vendor, dismissing with a laugh, said, "Trains don't carry nightmares. Bhadreshwar station, not a haunted dream."



As the tea vendor chuckled, a sudden chill swept through, and the station echoed with a faint, ghostly whisper. The laughter faded, replaced by a cryptic warning, "Some nightmares leave echoes reality can't erase." 🚂💀🌌

© Sahitya Mukherjee....✍️
#shortstory #sahitya #writco #horror
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Disclaimer: the story is based on real experience of the author beside the horror part....