Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
The Girl on the Train is a collection of short stories by Ruskin Bond that begins with a charming tale about a blind man’s encounter with an intriguing young girl on a train. Through his leisurely paced narratives, Bond transports readers to picturesque hill stations and sleepy towns, often introducing protagonists who forge new friendships or romances while visiting these locales.
The collection comprises 12 stories, and the most memorable for me was the fifth tale, Time Stops at Shamli. It follows an author’s impromptu trip to Shamli, an obscure little town, after his train is delayed at the station. Instead of waiting for the journey to resume, he decides to explore the town. In Shamli, he lodges at a near-empty hotel but encounters curious locals who keep him amused, including a surprising meeting with a beautiful married woman.
While some stories are entertaining, others feel repetitive in theme and execution, making the book a mixed experience. For instance, the penultimate tale, The Night Train at Deoli, starts similarly to the Shamli story, with the protagonist crossing a station and wondering about the town’s mysteries. Several stories center on an author-protagonist meeting and becoming infatuated with a woman he has just encountered.
The final story, Bus Stop, Pipalnagar, is the longest in the collection and, unfortunately, the most mundane. However, it stands out for its refreshing focus on a writer’s friendship with an orphaned street seller. Both dream of saving money and moving to Delhi for a better life. Until then, they share small-town adventures, including cooking chicken together and cycling in the rain.
Overall, this is an easy-to-read short story collection with a mix of memorable and forgettable tales about encounters with strangers, friends, and lovers.
Rating: 3 on 5 stars. ‘The Girl on the Train’ is also on Kindle Unlimited.
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