Travelling in a reserved compartment, and that too in an already packed one, without a reservation is always a risky affair. Not so much for fear of being penalised or fined but because you are totally at the mercy of those who have an authorised, valid ticket. The place rightfully belongs to them and one can only request for place, for some adjustment. To consent or reject is totally their choice. It is something we can only request for, hope for, but not demand. A very wrong tendency, when we the unreserved ('underserved') are a majority, is to 'feel' that they 'should' give us place.
Going by train to Muniguda, Orissa the other day in a similar fashion these were my thoughts for an hour of the four-hour long journey. It was easy to look upon those who had reserved a ticket and were keen on preserving a decent space for themselves, as 'stingy' and 'rude' people. However, a closer and realistic view of the scenario would show that we who did not have an authorised ticket in a reserved compartment and demanding place were the real rude ones!
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