Ruskin Bond, one of India’s most loved authors, was born on May 19, 1934, in Kasauli, then a part of British India and now in Himachal Pradesh. Over the decades, he has contributed richly to Indian literature with more than 500 short stories, essays, and novels, including 69 delightful books for children. His literary journey began with his first novel, The Room on the Roof, published in 1956, which went on to win the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. His remarkable body of work has been recognized with prestigious honors such as the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992, the Padma Shri in 1999, and the Padma Bhushan in 2014. Since 1963, he has lived in Landour, Mussoorie, as a freelance writer, where he resides with his adoptive family and continues to inspire generations of readers with his storytelling.

Summary

“The Night Train at Deoli” by Ruskin Bond is a story about a young man who is traveling by train to his grandmother’s house. At a tiny, quiet train station called Deoli, he sees a poor but beautiful girl selling baskets. He is immediately charmed by her.

He buys a basket from her, and they share a brief, silent moment of connection. On his way back, he sees her again. This time, they talk a little and he feels an even stronger connection. He hopes to see her again on his next trip.

However, when he returns to the station the following summer, the girl is gone. He waits for her, but she never shows up. He feels sad and disappointed.

Years later, the man thinks back on that girl. He never goes back to Deoli to find out what happened to her. Instead, he prefers to remember her as she was—a beautiful, mysterious girl who left a lasting impression on him. The story is about how a short, special meeting can stay with you forever.