Chapter 14 – Conversations After Midnight
It was half past twelve at night. Sleep refused to come to Krish. Memories of his meeting with Vanshika continued to revolve endlessly in his heart and mind. A constant worry gnawed at him—would he ever meet that unknown girl again, or would she remain just a fleeting presence in his life?
When she had been standing there, gazing toward the sea, he had a perfect chance to take a picture of her on his phone. Yet he hadn't done it. Now, he silently cursed himself for that missed moment. Krish tried to calm his thoughts and steady his restless mind, but he failed. The harder he tried to forget, the more deeply those memories pulled him back.
Suddenly, a faint sound echoed from the hall outside.
Krish got up from his bed and slowly opened the door of his room. In the dim light, he saw Saloni sitting alone on a chair, her face dull and exhausted, staring through the closed window. Nearby, her two younger brothers were sleeping peacefully, completely unaware of the tension in the air.
Krish noticed the sadness on Saloni's face immediately and walked toward her quietly.
Krish:
"What happened? Can't you sleep?"
Saloni turned to look at him.
Saloni:
"I can't sleep."
Krish:
"When something troubles us deeply, sleep disappears. That's normal."
Saloni:
"Does that happen to you too?"
Krish:
"Yes. Just like you, I can't sleep right now either."
Saloni:
"So what's troubling you?"
Krish:
"My problem is a little strange. Maybe you won't understand it."
Saloni:
"I'm the most sensible one in my house. I'm sure your problem isn't bigger than mine."
Krish:
"How can you say that?"
Saloni:
"You're sitting safely in your own home. While our own father beat us and threw us out of ours."
Krish paused for a moment.
Krish:
"You're right, to some extent. But this problem isn't permanent. By tomorrow morning, you all will be back in your home. And maybe your drunk and reckless father will realize his mistake. After that, things might return to how they were."
Saloni:
"I don't think so. Anyway, what is your problem?"
Krish:
"My problem is completely different."
Saloni:
"You can tell me. I understand."
One of Saloni's brothers shifted in his sleep. Krish glanced at him instinctively.
Krish:
"Speak softly. If we talk like this, they'll wake up."
Saloni:
"I'm not sleepy at all."
Krish:
"It seems I won't be sleeping tonight either."
Saloni:
"Should we go somewhere else and talk?"
Krish:
"It's very cold outside. We can go into the bedroom."
Saloni:
"Okay. Let's sit there."
Krish:
"That's good. At least we won't feel lonely being awake so late at night."
Saloni:
"That's true."
Both of them went into the bedroom. Krish asked Saloni to sit on the bed while he took the plastic chair placed nearby.
Krish:
"It's a little warm in here because the room is closed."
Saloni:
"Yes, it's fine. So… you were going to tell me about your problem."
Krish:
"Alright. Today I went for a walk at Elphinstone Park. At the far end of the park, near the seashore, I was watching the moonlit night and the ocean. That's where I met a girl…"
Saloni:
"Was she beautiful?"
Krish:
"Yes. Very beautiful. But more than that, she was emotionally sensitive—just like me. She was an H.S.P."
Saloni:
"What is HSP?"
Krish:
"Highly Sensitive Person. These are people who are emotionally very sensitive. They have a pure heart. They deeply understand others' pain. They can sense emotions without words. Their thoughts and feelings have depth. Their love is far deeper than that of an ordinary person… and much more."
Saloni:
"That actually sounds nice. Can I become like that too?"
Krish:
"That's hard to say. Most of the time, it's something you're born with. Everyone is different. Each person has their own qualities and flaws—some bring good outcomes, some bad. You seem like a good girl to me—sensible and capable of understanding others' emotions. That's somewhat like being an HSP. But not everyone has the same emotional depth."
Saloni:
"So that means I can never become like that?"
Krish:
"You still don't understand. It's just one kind of trait. All humans, all living beings, have different qualities. You must have some unique quality within you too—something that will help you become better and more capable in the future."
Saloni:
"Alright. Then tell me—how did you recognize that that unknown girl was sensitive like you?"
Krish:
"There were many similarities. The way she spoke. The way she preferred being alone. The deep secrets hidden in her eyes. The emotions reflected on her face. The strange things she said. I felt all of it deeply. In many ways, she was just like me. And the worst part is… I might never meet her again."
Saloni:
"If you truly like her from your heart, you will definitely meet her again. I'll pray to God for you."
Krish:
"Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for those positive thoughts. But I should tell you something—I'm an atheist."
Saloni:
"You mean you don't believe in God? Why?"
Krish:
"I only believe in what is real and visible in front of me."
Saloni:
"But God created this world. And after death, everyone has to return to Him."
Krish:
"And who has seen that God created the world? I don't want to argue about this in the middle of the night. Please don't ask me anything more about it."
Saloni:
"Okay. I understand."
Krish:
"So, are you in 12th grade?"
Saloni:
"No. I've already cleared 12th. I'll go to college after my admission."
Krish:
"Oh. So you've grown up now."
Saloni:
"Yes. I told you—I'm a sensible girl."
Krish: (laughing)
"Oh yes… I forgot you already said that."
Saloni:
"So how old are you?"
Krish:
"I'm twenty-five. How many marks did you get in 12th?"
Saloni:
"Seventy percent. Without tuition. We didn't have enough money for expensive coaching classes."
Krish:
"That's okay. Those are good marks. I noticed your glasses broke—were they prescription glasses?"
Saloni:
"They were reading glasses. My eyes burn sometimes."
Krish:
"That's fine. Get your correct number checked. I'll buy you new ones."
Saloni:
"Really? But why would you do that?"
Krish:
"Because talking to you made me feel a little better."
Saloni:
"To be honest, I felt really good talking to you too."
Krish:
"That's good. It's quite late now. We should sleep. I have to go to the office tomorrow."
Saloni:
"You're right. I'm feeling sleepy now too."
Krish:
"It's very cold. Make sure your brothers are properly covered with blankets."
Saloni:
"Yes."
Saloni returned to the hall. Krish felt lighter after their conversation. Wrapping himself in the cloth he had brought to use as a curtain, he finally lay down and drifted into sleep.
Next Chapter…