22-11-2025, 01:23 PM
Chapter 44: Sari (Act 9)
One silhouette stood in the doorway, their forms blending with the shadows.
“Shhhh…” a voice whispered into the quiet room. It was Risal. “Just checking… see if you’re comfortable.”
Sari’s breath caught in her throat. She lay still, her heart pounding as she tried to make sense of his presence. The train's rhythmic clatter seemed to grow louder in the silence that followed.
Risal stepped closer, his voice low and smooth. “The night is still young. I have something to show you. Something magical.”
Sari’s eyes flicked toward Rahim’s sleeping form above her. She hesitated, her voice barely audible. “I shouldn’t…”
He tilted his head, his expression softening. “It’ll be just 15 minutes. We’re passing through the mountainous area now, under the full moon. The view from the balcony is breathtaking. You won’t regret it.”
Her curiosity sparked, but she remained cautious. “I don’t know… I shouldn’t follow strangers.”
Risal reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, placing it gently on the small table near her bed. “Here. My most precious possession. If it makes you feel safer, take it. I wouldn’t risk losing it for anything.”
Sari glanced at the phone, then back at him. His gesture seemed genuine, and the earnestness in his eyes tugged at her. She bit her lip, weighing her options. The thought of witnessing something beautiful after the chaos of her recent days was tempting.
“Alright,” she whispered finally, sitting up slowly. “But just for a few minutes.”
Risal smiled, stepping back to give her space. He kept his movements deliberate and silent, clearly aware of Rahim’s presence above them.
Sari slipped on her shoes and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders before quietly following him out of the compartment. The corridor was dimly lit, and most of the passengers seemed to be asleep. The soft hum of the train and the occasional creak of metal filled the air.
“This way,” Risal murmured, leading her further down the car. They reached the open balcony at the end of the train car, where the cold mountain air greeted them with a refreshing chill.
Sari gasped softly as she took in the view. The moonlight bathed the rugged mountain pass in a silvery glow, casting long shadows across the landscape. The wind brushed against her face, carrying with it the faint scent of pine.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Risal said, standing beside her. His tone was warm, almost reverent.
“It’s… incredible,” Sari admitted, her earlier apprehension momentarily forgotten. She leaned against the railing, letting the cool air soothe her.
As she shifted her weight, her foot slipped slightly on the wet surface of the balcony. Before she could react, Risal’s hand shot out, steadying her effortlessly.
“Careful,” he said, his grip firm but gentle. “The railing can be slippery.”
She looked up at him, her cheeks flushing. “Thank you.”
He didn’t let go immediately, his hand lingering on her arm for a moment longer than necessary. “Let’s get you back inside before you catch a cold.”
They returned to the warmth of the train, and Risal led her to a vacant cabin nearby. He gestured to the seats invitingly. “Have a seat. You look like you could use some rest.”
Sari sat down, pulling her shawl tighter around herself. Risal retrieved a flask and two cups from a small shelf, pouring a steaming liquid into each one.
“Here,” he said, handing her a cup. “It’ll help you relax. You looked anxious earlier today.”
She accepted it gratefully, taking a cautious sip. The tea was rich and fragrant, with a hint of sweetness she hadn’t expected. Unbeknownst to her, it was spiked with a small amount of rum.
Risal took a seat opposite her, his movements casual but deliberate. “So, what brings you on this journey? If you don’t mind me asking.”
Sari hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “I’m going back to my hometown. Rahim, he’s like a big brother...he’s helping me get there.”
Risal nodded thoughtfully. “That’s kind of him. Not many people would go out of their way like that.”
“He’s been… amazing,” Sari admitted, her voice softening. She took another sip of the tea, feeling its warmth spread through her.
Risal watched her closely, his gaze steady but unthreatening. “You seem like someone who’s been through a lot. But there’s strength in you, I can see it.”
His words struck a chord with her, and she found herself opening up more than she intended. “It’s been… difficult lately. But I’m trying to move forward.”
“That’s all any of us can do,” Risal replied, his tone reassuring. He leaned forward slightly, his hand brushing hers playfully as he gestured to emphasize a point during their conversation. “Sometimes, it helps to talk to someone who doesn’t know your story. No judgments.”
Sari smiled faintly, feeling the effects of the tea and the alcohol beginning to loosen her inhibitions. Their conversation flowed easily as they talked about everything from childhood memories to dreams for the future. Risal’s charm was undeniable, and his ability to make her laugh surprised her.
As time passed, Sari noticed how Risal’s touches became more frequent, a light brush of his hand against hers, a gentle nudge when he shared a joke. She didn’t pull away, though a part of her knew she should.
One silhouette stood in the doorway, their forms blending with the shadows.
“Shhhh…” a voice whispered into the quiet room. It was Risal. “Just checking… see if you’re comfortable.”
Sari’s breath caught in her throat. She lay still, her heart pounding as she tried to make sense of his presence. The train's rhythmic clatter seemed to grow louder in the silence that followed.
Risal stepped closer, his voice low and smooth. “The night is still young. I have something to show you. Something magical.”
Sari’s eyes flicked toward Rahim’s sleeping form above her. She hesitated, her voice barely audible. “I shouldn’t…”
He tilted his head, his expression softening. “It’ll be just 15 minutes. We’re passing through the mountainous area now, under the full moon. The view from the balcony is breathtaking. You won’t regret it.”
Her curiosity sparked, but she remained cautious. “I don’t know… I shouldn’t follow strangers.”
Risal reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, placing it gently on the small table near her bed. “Here. My most precious possession. If it makes you feel safer, take it. I wouldn’t risk losing it for anything.”
Sari glanced at the phone, then back at him. His gesture seemed genuine, and the earnestness in his eyes tugged at her. She bit her lip, weighing her options. The thought of witnessing something beautiful after the chaos of her recent days was tempting.
“Alright,” she whispered finally, sitting up slowly. “But just for a few minutes.”
Risal smiled, stepping back to give her space. He kept his movements deliberate and silent, clearly aware of Rahim’s presence above them.
Sari slipped on her shoes and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders before quietly following him out of the compartment. The corridor was dimly lit, and most of the passengers seemed to be asleep. The soft hum of the train and the occasional creak of metal filled the air.
“This way,” Risal murmured, leading her further down the car. They reached the open balcony at the end of the train car, where the cold mountain air greeted them with a refreshing chill.
Sari gasped softly as she took in the view. The moonlight bathed the rugged mountain pass in a silvery glow, casting long shadows across the landscape. The wind brushed against her face, carrying with it the faint scent of pine.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Risal said, standing beside her. His tone was warm, almost reverent.
“It’s… incredible,” Sari admitted, her earlier apprehension momentarily forgotten. She leaned against the railing, letting the cool air soothe her.
As she shifted her weight, her foot slipped slightly on the wet surface of the balcony. Before she could react, Risal’s hand shot out, steadying her effortlessly.
“Careful,” he said, his grip firm but gentle. “The railing can be slippery.”
She looked up at him, her cheeks flushing. “Thank you.”
He didn’t let go immediately, his hand lingering on her arm for a moment longer than necessary. “Let’s get you back inside before you catch a cold.”
They returned to the warmth of the train, and Risal led her to a vacant cabin nearby. He gestured to the seats invitingly. “Have a seat. You look like you could use some rest.”
Sari sat down, pulling her shawl tighter around herself. Risal retrieved a flask and two cups from a small shelf, pouring a steaming liquid into each one.
“Here,” he said, handing her a cup. “It’ll help you relax. You looked anxious earlier today.”
She accepted it gratefully, taking a cautious sip. The tea was rich and fragrant, with a hint of sweetness she hadn’t expected. Unbeknownst to her, it was spiked with a small amount of rum.
Risal took a seat opposite her, his movements casual but deliberate. “So, what brings you on this journey? If you don’t mind me asking.”
Sari hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “I’m going back to my hometown. Rahim, he’s like a big brother...he’s helping me get there.”
Risal nodded thoughtfully. “That’s kind of him. Not many people would go out of their way like that.”
“He’s been… amazing,” Sari admitted, her voice softening. She took another sip of the tea, feeling its warmth spread through her.
Risal watched her closely, his gaze steady but unthreatening. “You seem like someone who’s been through a lot. But there’s strength in you, I can see it.”
His words struck a chord with her, and she found herself opening up more than she intended. “It’s been… difficult lately. But I’m trying to move forward.”
“That’s all any of us can do,” Risal replied, his tone reassuring. He leaned forward slightly, his hand brushing hers playfully as he gestured to emphasize a point during their conversation. “Sometimes, it helps to talk to someone who doesn’t know your story. No judgments.”
Sari smiled faintly, feeling the effects of the tea and the alcohol beginning to loosen her inhibitions. Their conversation flowed easily as they talked about everything from childhood memories to dreams for the future. Risal’s charm was undeniable, and his ability to make her laugh surprised her.
As time passed, Sari noticed how Risal’s touches became more frequent, a light brush of his hand against hers, a gentle nudge when he shared a joke. She didn’t pull away, though a part of her knew she should.
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