You see different people in your daily routine. The workaholic mom who buys her coffee at the next-door cafe at 8:20 am, the homeless man you pass by in front of the train station when trying to catch your tram at 8:04 am, the school kids you try to avoid getting on the same carriage with at 7:54 am, and even the handsome stranger with whom you catch the train from home at 7:01 am. You only embrace their relevance during those few minutes of the day until you dive into the rest of your day.
Sasha started her first 9-5 job right almost two years ago and had seen the same people share parts of her routine, and hadn’t given it a single thought. She carries her instant coffee in her hands until she fights off to get a seat all to herself on the train so she can take out her book and lose herself in its world. She has seen a fellow corporate slave for the past two years hop on the same train service at 7:01 am and 5:33 pm. He was a mystery wrapped in thick eyebrows, doe eyes, and a jock haircut that didn’t match his face. Yet, something about him exuded enigma, which Sasha found difficult to characterise as either pride or poise. AirPods in, he dressed like a finance bro, although his figure didn’t show he was at the gym six times a week. He was a skinny-toned man with a beautiful face that Sasha could not take her eyes off one evening.
It was a windy Friday, she had finished her workweek and was ready for a hopefully relaxing weekend. Although she was out of office, she was replying to emails in her head. Ever since her breakup with Ryan two years ago, Sasha devoted every free second to her work and excelling at it. It was the only good thing she got out of the toxic relationship. Sasha ran and hopped onto her train, but she was panting; a little embarrassingly. The train was full. No way would she be able to score a row to herself. The only free seat was next to the handsome stranger, who was simultaneously staring out the window and checking his phone. She sat next to him, aware yet oblivious to his momentary presence in her life. Sasha immediately took out her book, trying to concentrate on the plot, but her mind was reading much faster than she was extracting its meaning. Sentences that sounded like forced statements instead of facts that stitched themselves into curiosity. Fatigue clouding her vision, she decided to close her eyes and listen to music instead. “I really need a mental break from everything,” she thought. As she drifted into a nap, she felt fingers grappling by the side of her thigh against her jeans. ALERT! Sasha woke up in a confused fright. She was facing the handsome stranger as he lifted his hand to her face holding his airpod, “I’m so sorry,” he smiled shyly. His hand was beautifully carved with veins and the perfect imperfection of a crescent-shaped birthmark that sat between his thumb and index finger. This was the first time Sasha saw his smile. It was beautiful. Almost kissed by an angel. His eyes crinkled into a smile while his eyebrows frowned, asking for forgiveness. Sasha had to snap out of this moment that stood still in time. After seconds of astonishment, she manages to say, “Oh, that’s okay,” with a shy smile. They go back to their phones. But Sasha’s heart was pounding, just like when she caught the train.
The next few weeks after this interaction were a mind opener. For the longest time, Sasha’s life was a dramatic cool, grey and plain. But after that interaction with Moon Boy, the nickname she gave this captivating stranger, her life was caramelised. She thought her life was all about building her career as a and proving to Ryan that she was the hardest-working person he had ever met. But now, her life introduced a new lens to her scenery. Her apartment seemed to let in sunlight through spaces she never saw before. Her surroundings became pristine. Sasha’s thoughts and actions were entirely consumed by Moon Boy.
Wednesday morning came around, and it was the organization team meeting which Sasha volunteered to chair, even though she had plenty on her plate and no one else seemed to check up on her and her burnout. She believed these were two separate entities.
Sasha stood at the platform, ready to rehearse her chairing on the train, hopefully finding a free row to herself. Whilst her mind is focussed on the presentation, she also looks for Moon Boy, who is never late for the train. “Maybe he took the day off? Damn, I’ll miss him,” she thought disappointingly.
“Good morning, customers. Thank you for choosing Moreland Metro. Please note that this service will have three carriages instead of six. We do apologise for any inconvenience.”
“You have got to be kidding me,” she whispered under her breath.
Looks like I can throw rehearsing out the window.
The train arrived and everyone huddled to the entrance.
I’m going to be a sardine today.
Sasha found herself sitting next to a middle-aged man, scrolling through the news on his phone, wishing it was Moon Boy instead. Sasha kept thinking about his handsome face and mysterious allure. She was going to miss seeing him. She was down bad.
Her whirlwind of a crush on Moon Boy was intriguing. She didn’t know what to do with this tornado swirling in her chest whenever she thought about him. She found the name fitting, as he had the ambience of a shining moon that matched his birthmark. She daydreamed about approaching him and striking a conversation, as she passed station after station.
That’s when the yelling began.
“Oi oi! Gimme that!” “Yeah? You wanna mess around?!” Everyone looked around. Who is causing that racket?
The Moreland Metro line was one of the quietest train lines. However, this was different.
Corporate adults trying to catch a wink of sleep were startled to their core, by men dressed in black, head to toe, with hooded masks. There were eight men, spread across the three carriages. They were carrying backpacks and had knives attached to their hip, and one man with a tattooed neck had a machete. There were only three carriages. That would mean there’s only one conductor on this train. An armed men dragged the conductor and the train driver out of the sealed rooms. The train stopped.
They were stuck in the middle of a field, nowhere close to a train station. They were in danger. A woman tried to get her phone out to call emergency services, but the men yelled to get everyone’s phones on the ground. Everyone was scared. You rarely saw news reports of burglaries on public transport in Moreland. Anxiety left a burning feeling in her chest. She felt tears filling up the corners of her eyes. Everyone threw their phones while the men toss them around with their scuffed boots. The armed men walked through the train like they owned the metal contraption. Sasha had never felt this kind of fear before and could feel herself beginning to hyperventilate. Taking in her surroundings, she controlled her breathing. Box breathing was not the best remedy for this moment. A tall masked man started walking through the aisle near Sasha, forcefully taking people’s handbags and briefcases. He started digging through them and took out laptops, iPads and headphones. Sasha clung to her bag, knowing she was going to lose every thing she ever wrote on her laptop. She studied the man, his stature, movements and features; the way his hands forcefully grabbed the devices out of petrified traingoers. His hands were bare and veiny and… “It couldn’t be…” Sasha thought. A crescent-shaped birthmark on his hand between his thumb and index finger! Sasha let out a silent gasp as she tried to contain the utter shock of her realisation. This was… Moon Boy. Her Moon Boy. Her delusion of a perfect man. There he was, robbing innocent people. As Sasha let her realisation spill through her, she locked eyes with Moon Boy. His eyes widened. He knew. She knew.
Dropping everything, he hurried and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her out of her seat, dragging her and pushing her into the control room of the train. Sasha let out a shriek as she fell to the floor. “Be quiet! Don’t let them know you’re here,” said Moon Boy. Sasha couldn’t tell whether she was being protected or saved for later torture. “Oi Nikhil! What’s going on?” shouted one of the other men. His deep eyes were the last thing she saw as the door slammed in Sasha’s face. She finally knew his name.