Bench Number 5 short Story
Bench Number 5, the metal bench on Platform 6—usually ignored, slightly crooked, and suspiciously warm—was about to become the stage for a drama no one paid for, but everyone needed.
The First Occupant: A Kid With Too Much Attitude
Rahul, a 10-year-old kid with a schoolbag heavier than his patience, threw himself onto the bench like a rejected hero.
“Papa said five minutes,” he muttered to himself , opening a packet of cream biscuits. “It’s been three freakin’ hours.” and there is no sigh of him
He pulled his cap down and stared at the tracks like he could summon a train with pure annoyance.
Second Person : The Groom Who Bolted
A karan in a cream sherwani—half-buttoned, dirt-stained, and minus footwear—staggered towards the bench like he’d escaped a prison.
Because technically, he had.
“Bench 5?” he panted. “Thank god. I think I just ditched my own wedding.” he muttered to himself
Rahul raised an eyebrow without looking up.
“You ran away dressed like that? What happened—baraat ran outta gas?”
The man dropped onto the bench with a groan.
“Her mom called me ‘beta’ in this creepy voice, man… like she already bought the cage. I panicked.”
Rahul shrugged. “Sounds like a ‘you’ problem. Want a biscuit?” karan took a cream biscuit , hmm it is actually good
Rahul said with a mischievous smile . welcome to club
The Sad Singer with Smudged Eyeliner
Minutes later, a girl with a guitar slung over her shoulder and heartbreak written all over her eyeliner shuffled up to them. She sat on the edge of the bench, barely making eye contact.
“He’s not coming,” she whispered.
“Train?” Rahul asked.
“No. she said loudly, “My ex.”
She sighed. “He took my keyboard, my dog, and my best friend. Said he needed space. I hope he finds it… ”
Sameer let out a short laugh. “You should be on the radio.”
She gave a soft smile. “I sing better when I’m sad.”
Karan five him a cream biscuit , you wanna join a club , Rhea look both of them and sit down the branch
When Weirdos Become Therapy Buddies
The Three of them sat like missing pieces from three different boxes. The only thing they had in common?
Bench Number 5.
Karan stared at his crumpled wedding invite and laughed at the cheesy couplet on it.
Rahul taught them how to toss pebbles into a chai glass 15 feet away (no one ever scored, but it was the effort that counted).
They cracked jokes, mocked each other, and slowly… started healing.
The Lesson Arrives on Platform 6
The loudspeaker crackled.
📢 “Train to Kanpur has been cancelled due to technical issues.”
No one moved.
They just looked at each other.
“Well,” Karan said, “guess I’m not running anywhere today.”
“Maybe that’s the point,” Rhea said softly, plucking at her guitar. “Sometimes, missing a train is the universe saying, ‘Sit your butt down and deal with your mess.’”
Rahul grinned. “You weirdos are kinda cool. You wanna hang till papa finds me?”
One Last Scene Before Sunset
Sameer stood up and stretched. “We should open that mehendi-music stall. Add biscuits to the menu. Call it… I dunno… Bench Number 5?”
Rhea looked around at the dusty station, the pigeons fighting over chips, the warm metal under her.
She smiled. “It’s the only place I didn’t feel alone all day.”
As the sun dipped below the signal tower, the bench sat empty again.
But for Three people who weren’t supposed to meet, who all missed their plans and messed up their lives…
Bench Number 5 gave them something better.
Moral of the Story
Sometimes, the train you missed is actually the one that saved you. 🚂✨