The Last Station of the Metro (Version with Twists)
Kolkata in December. The winter fog swirls around the platform of Esplanade Metro station. Arif (28) stands there, coffee cup in hand, heart restless. Three months of chatting with Ananya (26) on Tinder. Today is their first meeting. Ananya arrives – white kurti, black jeans, red scarf. Hair open. Arif's eyes get stuck on her.
"Hi," she says with a smile.
Arif replies, "You… are much more beautiful than in the pictures."
Ananya laughs, "Looks like you've switched on flirt mode. Come on, let's get on the metro. We're going to Rabindra Sadan."
They stand in the metro. Their hands brush. Ananya gently holds his hand.
"Feeling cold?" Arif asks.
"No, your hand is warm," Ananya replies.
With every jolt of the metro, their bodies come closer. Arif thinks — may this moment last forever.
They get off at Rabindra Sadan and start walking towards Park Street. In a café, they order coffee.
Ananya says, "I live alone. My parents are separated. Kolkata is my family."
Arif says, "My father is no more. Mom is alone. I support her. But sometimes I feel alone too."
Conversation flows — childhood stories, dreams, fears.
Ananya says, "From today, I'm here for you."
Tears glisten in Arif's eyes.
At a bookstore, Ananya reads out "Kankal" (The Skeleton) to him.
"Life is sometimes like an invisible skeleton — love hides inside it."
Arif says, "You've seen my skeleton."
At night, the last metro.
Ananya says, "In a few months I'm going to Bengaluru for a job."
Arif is shocked. "Then…?"
Ananya replies, "Can distance really kill love?"
Last station — Kavi Subhash.
Their first kiss. In the winter breeze.
The following months feel magical. They meet every day on the metro. Sometimes at Arif's flat in Salt Lake, sometimes at Ananya's flat near Park Street. They get drenched in the rain and laugh.
Ananya says, "Kolkata's rain is for us."
Arif says, "The metro is our train."
A week before Ananya is supposed to leave, Arif receives a message from an unknown number:
"Ananya hasn't told you everything. She has someone from her past. She's going to Bengaluru for him."
Arif is stunned. He doesn't ask Ananya anything. He stays silent. Ananya leaves. Doubt fills Arif's mind. He stops going to the metro.
Distance grows. Chats decrease.
Ananya calls and asks, "Why are you so quiet?"
Arif says, "Nothing. Just busy."
But inside, a storm rages.
One day Ananya calls crying: "I miss you so much. But there's a problem here."
Arif asks, "What?"
Ananya says, "An old friend is here. He's helping me. But please don't misunderstand."
Arif's mother falls seriously ill — heart attack. Arif is at the hospital. He doesn't tell Ananya.
But Ananya finds out (through Arif's friend). She books a ticket and comes to Kolkata immediately.
At the hospital, she hugs Arif tightly.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Arif cries, "I was scared… after hearing about your past…"
Ananya says, "Past? That message? That was my cousin. He helped me find the job. There's no romance."
Arif feels ashamed. "I misunderstood."
His mother recovers. Ananya stays for a few days. They come closer again.
But Ananya says, "I have to go back to Bengaluru. But this time… will you come with me?"
Arif replies, "I can't leave my job. Mom is alone."
One year later. Arif's company opens a branch in Bengaluru. He gets a transfer.
He surprises Ananya — standing at the metro station.
Ananya comes. Arif says, "I'm coming to you."
Ananya cries. They hug tightly.
But the final twist:
Ananya says, "I never told you one thing. I'm pregnant."
Arif is shocked, then smiles.
"This is our best twist."
They board the metro. Last station.
Now the journey begins for three.
From Kolkata to Bengaluru.
From metro to flight.
But love remains the same.
Cities change, but the story continues.
The End.