The Last Stop: A Journey into the Unknown

The streets of Nayagarh were never truly silent. The city pulsed with life at all hours, its trains running like veins through the sprawling urban chaos. But as the night deepened and the last train departed, a different kind of quiet took over—a quiet that was unnatural.

A quiet that whispered of things unseen.

For Jay, a young salesman, that night was supposed to be just another long day at work. He never imagined it would end in a nightmare he would never forget.

A Long Day at Work

The summer heat of June 2024 still lingered in the air as Jay sat at his desk in Gorhat District, Velran. He rubbed his temples, staring at his laptop screen, waiting for a final confirmation from a client. His boss had been clear—he couldn’t leave until the deal was sealed.

By the time it was done, the office was nearly empty. It was past 10 PM.

With a sigh, he packed his bag and stepped out into the warm, humid night. His phone battery was nearly dead, and he had barely enough cash for a train ticket. Taking a cab wasn’t an option.

His only choice was the last local train from Velran Railway Station.

A Station Drenched in Silence

By the time he reached the station, the usual rush of commuters was gone. The ticket counters were closed, the food stalls had shut down, and only a few homeless men were dozing on the benches.

Jay checked the station clock. 1:30 AM.

"The last train to Vashpur just left," a station cleaner muttered, dragging a worn-out broom across the tiled floor.

Jay sighed. The first train wouldn’t come until 4 AM. He had no choice but to wait.

He found a bench near Platform 4, set his bag beside him, and stretched his legs. Exhaustion crept up on him, and his eyelids grew heavy. The rhythmic hum of distant trains and the occasional announcement over the speakers lulled him into a half-sleeping state.

Then, something changed.

A sudden chill ran through the air, far too cold for a summer night.

Jay rubbed his arms and looked around. The station seemed darker than before, as if the streetlights had dimmed. The only sound was the faint rustling of leaves from the tracks.

And yet—there was a feeling.

A sensation that someone was watching him.

Slowly, he turned his head.

Behind him stood a tall, concrete pillar, casting a long shadow across the platform. But he could have sworn he saw something peeking from behind it—a flicker of movement just out of sight.

A shiver ran down his spine.

"Just my imagination," he muttered, shaking his head.

Trying to brush off the unease, he closed his eyes again. But that feeling wouldn’t go away.

The Three Figures

Minutes passed. Jay kept glancing at the pillar, convinced something was there. But the more he stared, the emptier it seemed.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something else.

Three men sat at the far end of the platform, near the railway tracks. He hadn’t seen them before. Had they been there all along?

They sat completely still, backs hunched, heads bowed, as if staring at something on the tracks.

Something about them felt wrong.

Jay turned his gaze away, trying not to let his nerves get to him. It was just his mind playing tricks on him.

He laid down on his side, using his bag as a pillow. His body ached, his thoughts clouded by exhaustion. He closed his eyes, hoping to rest until the first train arrived.

Then—a whispering sound.

At first, it was soft, like murmurs carried by the wind.

But soon, the whispers turned into low, muffled sobs.

Jay’s eyes flew open.

The three figures were still in the same spot. But now, they were crying—their bodies shaking, their muffled sobs echoing through the empty station.

Jay’s stomach twisted.

Every instinct in his body screamed at him to leave.

The Nightmare Begins

He rolled onto his other side, trying to block out the sound. Just ignore it. Just sleep.

Then—a sudden pressure on his leg.

Jay’s breath hitched.

He slowly looked down.

The three men were now sitting right beside him.

Their grins were unnatural, stretched wide across their pale faces.

One of them leaned in, his breath cold against Jay’s ear, and whispered in Ranhavi,

“तपन मर्सल ना गाइस दिस?”

("You're going to die too, right?")

Jay bolted upright. His heart slammed against his ribs as he scrambled to his feet.

The three figures didn’t move. They just sat there, grinning at him.

Jay turned and ran.

The Escape

He sprinted toward the ticket counter, gasping for breath. The station was deserted—no guards, no workers, no passengers.

Then, a voice called out behind him.

"Hey, don’t be foolish. You’re not in a movie."

Jay froze.

Slowly, he turned his head.

The three men were standing right behind him.

One of them took a step forward. “Come to us. We are just dead. We won’t do anything to you.”

A scream built in Jay’s throat, but no sound came out.

His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground, his vision blurring.

Desperate, he began to mutter the Hanuman Chalisa, his voice shaking.

Darkness swallowed him whole.

Morning Comes

When he woke up, it was morning.

A cleaner was shaking him. "Get up, bhai. Why are you sleeping here?"

Jay’s eyes darted around wildly. The station was back to normal—people were moving about, vendors were opening their stalls.

He checked his watch. 5:00 AM.

Had it been a nightmare? Or… something else?

His hands were trembling. His heart was still racing.

Then, something made him stop.

A group of three men sat near the platform, talking among themselves.

And as Jay watched, one of them turned, grinned at him, and whispered in Ranhavi:

“You're going to die too, right?”

Jay didn’t stay to find out what happened next.

He ran, vowing never to be at Velran station alone at night again.

The Truth About Velran Station

Years later, Jay learned something chilling.

Thousands of people die on Nayagarh’s railway tracks every year. Some fall, some jump, and others… simply disappear.

And in the dead of night, when the last train leaves and silence takes over, the ones who never left still roam the platforms.

Waiting.

Watching.

And maybe, just maybe—looking for their next companion.

So the next time you miss the last train… be careful where you sit.