She used to sit under the banyan tree daily, gazing towards that rail unrelentingly. She would arrive prompt at five along with some chapatis packed for dinner and her daily knitting. Sometimes I could feel her gaze on rail intent on forcing a train to arrive. I arrived here a week ago as a tenant in old station master cabin. For one week, I have tried delegating her waiting as a fruit of my imagination. But daily she arrived armed with her knitting needles to taunt my mind.

Did she not realize that these rail roads were abandoned? Did she not realize that her wait will never be successful? Did she not realize that no whistle will ever sing its melancholy note on these rails again? I knew I should not let her presence bother me. After all, she was just a old lady. But I could not sit here and work on plans of removing this rail with her haunting gaze fixed on them. Before I realized, I had crossed the rail. I greeted the lady, "Hello Ma'am."
Her gaze flickered to me, and then went back to the rails. The constant clicking of the kniting needles persisted.
I continued,"I am sorry to disturb your peace. But ma'am I have seen you arriving and sitting here for past one week. It looks like you are waiting for someone. But ma'am these rails are abandoned.No train will ever come here. This rail has been ordered for derailment. After the accident, it has been decided these rails are not safe to carry any trains.I am actually here for surveying that only. I am here to make the plan for derailing these abandoned rail."
She replied without turning towards me, "Young man, I know."
I was puzzled. "But ma'am if you know what are you waiting for? Why do you sit here daily?"
She shook her head her eyes gleaming with unshed tears, "You would not understand. I was in that train during that accident I was going with my kids and husband to attend a marriage. We were reveling in the stories and games, celebrating the fact that soon it will be my son's turn.. I remember the horror of derailment that occurred. I remember the taste of blood in my mouth. I remember the jerk we felt. And I hear the bodies. Do you know I lost my husband and my sons here?"
Horrified I asked, "Then why do you torture yourself gazing at these tracks?"
She laughed eerily and replied, "Since the day I healed, I am waiting for the ghost train to arrive. It will come and I will board the train along with my sons and husband. The fate had tried to deceive me by condemning me with the life of loneliness but I will deceive it by arriving in heaven with my children and husband. Go away young man, let me keep my watch for the ghost train.I have found a way to trick the fate and I will not be deterred."
I left from there, her laugh still echoing in my ears.