A jolt shook me awake. My head, resting against the hard windowpane of the train, ached slightly from the uncomfortable position. Blinking groggily, I tried to make sense of my surroundings. The rhythmic clatter of the train wheels filled my ears, the occasional murmur of co-passengers blending into the distant hum of travel. The dim glow of the overhead lights flickered momentarily, casting strange shadows across the seats. For a moment, I felt utterly lost.
Where was I? What day was it? Why did everything feel... different?
I rubbed my eyes and took a deep breath. Was this a dream? It had to be. I had read countless rebirth and reincarnation novels, but the possibility of it happening to me felt too surreal. Even though my mind screamed that this couldn't be real, my senses told a different story. The stale, metallic scent of the train, the slight discomfort of the hard seat, the weight of my own body—everything felt far too tangible to be a dream.
But how? How was this possible?
I hesitated before touching my arm, lightly pinching the skin. A sharp sting. My heart pounded in my chest. If this were a dream, wouldn't I have woken up by now? I looked around, scanning the people in the train compartment. They all seemed so real, engaged in quiet conversations, some dozing off, others staring out the window.
Had I really returned to my past? Had I truly been given another chance?
A cold shiver ran down my spine. This was the same journey. The same unreserved train ride. The same moment where, in my past life, I had fought with my father. I knew every little detail too well for this to be an illusion. But if this was real, then what did it mean? Why had I been sent back? Was there something I needed to change?
Doubt gnawed at my mind. If I accepted this as reality, what was I supposed to do with this second chance? I had spent my previous life dwelling in regrets, always wondering what I could have done differently. Now that the opportunity was right in front of me, could I really make the most of it? Or would I end up making the same mistakes?
I bit my lip, trying to steady my breathing. The enormity of the situation threatened to overwhelm me. No, I couldn't afford to panic. I needed to think clearly. If I had truly been reborn, then I had a purpose. I had a chance to make things right, to appreciate what I had once taken for granted. And that started now.
I sat up, stretching my stiff shoulders, and rubbed my temples. My eyes landed on a newspaper on the seat in front of me. Without thinking, I grabbed it and scanned the date. The numbers stared back at me, and suddenly, reality came crashing in.
I was on my way home from school, having just been selected in the entrance exam for my new school. But something felt off—more than just the grogginess of waking up. I glanced at my surroundings again, as if seeing them for the first time. The train, the unreserved seats, the feeling of mild discomfort—it was all too familiar. My breath hitched in my throat.
This wasn't just déjà vu. This was my past.
A shiver ran down my spine. Was I dreaming? Hallucinating? Or… had I really been given another chance? My past life, the one I had lived before, had been filled with regrets. And now, I was back, sitting in the same unreserved train coach, three rows away from my father.
I turned slightly and spotted him, sitting with a weary expression, looking out the window.
The memory hit me hard. In my past life, I had been so upset that we couldn't sit together. I had sulked, thrown a tantrum, and fought with him over it. I had let my frustration overshadow the rare moments I could have cherished with him. A lump formed in my throat. I had been so foolish.
My fingers trembled as I clutched the newspaper tighter. My past life had been filled with frustrations over things that didn't matter in the long run. And now, I had the chance to do it all over again. This time, I wouldn't waste it.
I glanced down at my empty hands. No phone. No internet. In 2025, that had been unimaginable to me. I had been so used to the constant presence of technology that being without it felt strange. But now, I welcomed the silence. I had always been addicted to reincarnation and rebirth novels—how ironic that I found myself living one.
The train rattled as it passed through a tunnel, momentarily plunging us into darkness. When the dim light returned, so did my resolve.
In a week, I would start at my new school—the very place I had despised in my past life. The lack of freedom, the strict rules, the rigid discipline—I had resented it all. But that school had also given me some of my best memories, friendships, and experiences. I had been too blind to see it then. But this time, I wouldn't repeat my mistakes.
A soft smile tugged at my lips. I turned my gaze toward my father again. He looked tired, probably exhausted from the long journey, but there was a quiet determination in his posture. He had worked so hard to give me a good future, to make sure I had opportunities. And I had never truly appreciated it.
Not this time.
I stood up slowly, maneuvering past the other passengers, and walked toward him. He turned, surprised to see me standing before him.
"What happened?" he asked, concern flickering in his eyes.
Instead of answering, I sat down beside him, squeezing into the small space available.
"Nothing. I just wanted to sit with you," I said simply.
He blinked, taken aback by my words. In my past life, I had chosen to stay stubbornly in my seat, unwilling to compromise. Now, I just wanted to cherish this moment, however small it was.
"Appa... I'm sorry," I murmured, my voice softer. "For throwing a tantrum earlier. I realize now that getting a ticket and reaching home safely was more important than where we sat."
He looked at me for a long moment before sighing. "You were upset. But I understand. Train journeys can be tiring."
"Still, I shouldn't have been so selfish." I hesitated. "I realize now that reaching home safely was more important than my comfort."
He smiled, resting a hand on my head. "That's all that matters."
I laughed, a genuine, light-hearted sound that felt unfamiliar yet freeing. "Maybe I just realized what's important, reaching home on time to eat mom's mushroom biriyani, rather than wasting time on another comfortable train."
He looked at me surprised and laughed. "You Foodie. Don't worry your mom will be waiting with your favorite to get selected to the school."
The train continued its journey, the landscape outside blurring into the night. I leaned against my father's shoulder, feeling a warmth I had once taken for granted.
I had been given another chance at life. And this time, I would make the most of it.