Lingering - Volume One  (Paperback, Satish Chandra Saxena)

At the entrance gate to a Central Govt Colony, there was a spacious cabin with all the latest technology to identify visitors so the residents could allow them access. However, the guards were still mandated to check the identity of each entrant unless they had a permanent pass or were known by the guards. In this setup, a simple, sincere, sensitive, and sentimental young man named Brijendra was assigned to duty at the entry gate. He was specifically ordered to check the identity of everyone till he could recognise them fully. He had joined to help his family to raise their standards of living, therefore he was cautious about fulfilling his duties. One day, he was traumatised by the rejection from a young lady whom he was attracted to. The statement was so powerful that it awakened his conscience and challenged him, leading to this story.