There is somebody sitting there - they tried to stop me. Two obviously Malayalee boys. I said we can adjust and sat anyway. Adjust. This is a word that you will hear a lot during train journeys without reservation.
The guy who came back to sit next to me, occupying the seat not reserved by him was a Rajasthani, from Pilani. But I had one bum firmly planted on the seat. But smiled and nodded at him. He was from Navy and was going to Karwad.
The flow of people into the compartment did not stop. A tall, well built Malayalee with his shingadi came in with huge amounts of luggage. He could have got into a flight except for this large amount of luggage, he complained. He had to reach home deposit his belongings and join duty in some Gulf country. His second job there. The respite in Mumbai had accumulated too much weight. In luggage and in his body. I looked at him standing bearing his own weight. After a few hours, I told him that I am willing to give him my seat to rest his legs a bit. He was overwhelmed by the offer. So we tiptoed over people sitting on the floor and exchanged our positions. A lady with lots of jewelry and an oldish husband came in into the compartment. I could see the distaste on her face when she looked at the tribals sitting on the floor. But within a few hours she was sitting shoulder to shoulder with the tribal woman next to her. The Malayalee was aghast at the way the tribal women handled their children. Leaving them lying sleeping on the floor while they went to the toilet. The crowd will reduce when the train reached Ratnagiri, he said. Some other voice agreed. The camaraderie in such situations are amazing. People offer water bottles to each other. Food is exchanged. People become comfortable with each other. An equality descends within an hour or two after the train starts.
The place that one sits is regarded as reserved. But when you go to the toilet somebody who is standing will sit there till you come back.
Compare this against a journey in a reserved compartment. The people are reserved. They keep to themselves. It takes about a full day for people to even acknowledge each other's presence.
The guy who came back to sit next to me, occupying the seat not reserved by him was a Rajasthani, from Pilani. But I had one bum firmly planted on the seat. But smiled and nodded at him. He was from Navy and was going to Karwad.
The flow of people into the compartment did not stop. A tall, well built Malayalee with his shingadi came in with huge amounts of luggage. He could have got into a flight except for this large amount of luggage, he complained. He had to reach home deposit his belongings and join duty in some Gulf country. His second job there. The respite in Mumbai had accumulated too much weight. In luggage and in his body. I looked at him standing bearing his own weight. After a few hours, I told him that I am willing to give him my seat to rest his legs a bit. He was overwhelmed by the offer. So we tiptoed over people sitting on the floor and exchanged our positions. A lady with lots of jewelry and an oldish husband came in into the compartment. I could see the distaste on her face when she looked at the tribals sitting on the floor. But within a few hours she was sitting shoulder to shoulder with the tribal woman next to her. The Malayalee was aghast at the way the tribal women handled their children. Leaving them lying sleeping on the floor while they went to the toilet. The crowd will reduce when the train reached Ratnagiri, he said. Some other voice agreed. The camaraderie in such situations are amazing. People offer water bottles to each other. Food is exchanged. People become comfortable with each other. An equality descends within an hour or two after the train starts.
The place that one sits is regarded as reserved. But when you go to the toilet somebody who is standing will sit there till you come back.
Compare this against a journey in a reserved compartment. The people are reserved. They keep to themselves. It takes about a full day for people to even acknowledge each other's presence.
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