07
I took my belongings and boarded the train en route to the sea. Cars, trees, and streetlamps whizzed by as the train moved swiftly on the tracks. Though the windows were shut I sensed fresh cool wind on my face and closed my eyes to embrace the illusion. Each gentle rock of the train was a subtle current of the ocean lifting my raft up and dropping it down. When the train finally stopped at its shoreline destination, I grabbed my duffel bag and jumped onto the platform, seeing the image I’d pictured in my mind come to life; the sea before me. I walked into the station and headed up the escalator. Two men in uniform stopped me a few feet before I exited the station.
“Mr. Nyāya, please come with us.”
Before I knew it, a hand gripped each of my arms and the duffel bag was stripped my clutch. I was being led out of the station away from the sea and towards a black car parked on the street.