The Longest Night

Attention please! The Shimla Express is running late by two hours,” the loudspeaker called out in the almost empty waiting room at Shimla railway station.

- Dr. Ritu Jain

Aarav cried, “Two hours! That will be past midnight. It’s already after ten o’clock, Ma!”

His mother pulled her thick shawl tighter and smiled tiredly. “I know, beta. Winters are very foggy here. Trains move slowly in the hills because of the fog. Try to rest for a bit.”

She set an alarm on her phone, leaned back in the wooden chair, and soon fell asleep.

A yellow bulb moved, making shadows on the dusty floor. Cold air came in through the cracks in the windows.

Aarav rubbed his hands together to keep warm. It was the start of winter vacation. He was going to his Nani’s house in Goa to escape the cold nights of Shimla.

“Why did the train have to be late today of all days?” he complained, stamping his foot.

“Because time moves slowly on the longest night,” said a soft voice behind him. Aarav turned.

A girl around his age sat two chairs away.

She wore a faded wool skirt, a red muffler and her hair was tied in a loose plait.

“What longest night?” Aarav asked, frowning.

“The winter solstice,” she said. “December 21. Today the Earth tilts farthest from the sun. The day is the shortest, and the night is the longest of the whole year.”

“Oh...” Aarav still looked bored. “But sitting here doing nothing is so pointless.”