Richard was standing against the railings of the balcony, with a freshly brewed mug of coffee, reminiscing about the day, lost in his thoughts. 

It was a chilly night with a gentle breeze, the moon shining brightly, with clouds playing hide and seek with the stars strewn across the darkened sky. 

Richard was betrothed to Ramya. After a long, unfruitful search, he found her. Gradually, his mind reminded him of the day he met her, in a train, six years ago. 

Ramya was a stranger till two years ago, but for that one encounter in a train. On that fateful train journey from Kolkata to Hyderabad, he met her. Richard had travelled to Kolkata for a business proposal. 

He looked forward to the particular train journey as his mind was a little unsettled about the journey. It was a long-distance train, and the journey would be long, and he had to endure it. 

He got into his designated coach and berth and started getting himself comfortable for the journey. 

Settling onto the berth, stretching his body within moments, his eyes closed, and he was fast asleep. With some dreamlike situations arising in his stupor, he heard a soft whimper of a cry. He woke up from his slumber and looked around in a confused manner. 

Slowly, recollecting his bearing, he understood he was in the train and there was a woman on the opposite berth with tears running down her face, interlaced with soft sobs. 

She was holding a notebook and a pen, scribbling down in the book as if she were noting down every single aspect of her life. Not wanting to be a creep, he turned around and looked away from her and tried to remain calm. 

It seemed like a while when he woke up startled again and immediately looked for the woman. Not finding her, worried, he sat up and quickly came down the berth and looked for her across the compartment. 

He found her at the door, wide open, and contemplating jumping off the train. He stood ready if she did something like that to pull her back. 

The seconds ran into minutes, and I kept looking at her, and she was still glued to the same position and never moved an inch away. 

I stood there for I don't know how long, building up all my courage, I lifted my hand and pulled her away, she lost her balance and clung to me. I looked down at her eyes and asked her, ‘Why?’

She screamed, startled and pulled away from me. It looked like an afterthought that crossed her mind when she composed herself and looked at me, with a confusion and a slight sense of thankfulness on her face, replied softly, ‘Thank you’ 

With nothing else, she walked into the compartment. I followed her, and there she sat, lost in her thoughts. I let her be and slowly sat a little away from her, and after a very long time, asked her, ‘Would you like to talk about it?’

I couldn’t expect her to pour her heart out to me. So, slowly, I pondered, and she opened up. I listened to her patiently, acknowledging her with an occasional monosyllable.  

Now aware of what led to her decision, I told her in a stern voice that what she was about to do was the stupidest thing in her life. 

I gave her whatever money was in my purse and told her to look forward to what life threw at her with a fraction of the fearlessness that she mustered to end her life.

I thought of giving her my visiting card, but I didn’t want to burden her. Told her to be safe, and with the promise she made, I walked away. 

About two years ago, I was to interview a few candidates. I was sitting in the office skim-reading through the shortlisted resumes, to my surprise, I found her resume among them. 

My heart leapt with joy and I started to race across my office, lifting the phone to make a call to her, to tell her it was I whom she met on that day. 

But, I wasn’t sure how she would react, would she remember me, or would she have forgotten that fateful day? 

Now, six years later, I am going to wed her the day after tomorrow. She will be my wife and a subordinate in the office.