Sleeping on a train.

ook so little background. I and 6ft and about 200 lbs depending on that day’s consumption of rice and water. This sleeping on a train thing is going to be interesting.

The layout is this. There is a bench seat that fits 3 people somewhat spaciously, 4 people uncomfortably. This seat is probably 5 and a half feet. It is also the same length as the 3 beds. The back of the bench folds down into the first bed. The second bed folds down to chest level probably a good 4 and a half feet of the ground. It hooks into the 3^rd bed by 2 latches, one on either side. The third bed is at least 7 feet off the floor, well past me being able to see the surface of the bed. The beds are about 2 feet wide, nothing luxurious, made out of steel some leather and plastic seat material colored dirty blue stuffed with white-ish stuffing. The ceiling clearance was about 2.5 feet, just enough for you to think you can clear it by sitting up, only to nail your head half way up. This was my sleeping area. There was a mirrored image 3 feet directly across from this set up.

The train staff comes around and gives you a brown paper bag with 2 bed sheets in it, slightly larger than the bed itself. They also give you a pillow and blanket, the color and texture of a brown burlap sack. Oh and a facial towel. These are all allegedly clean, and frankly your only option unless you packed a whole bunch of sleeping stuff, which would be dumb. Or maybe it would be smart, idk, it was the situation we were in an it was accepted, so we moved on, very quickly.

So my bookbag full of all my clothes and meds and computer is now my first pillow, ouch, and the real pillow, not much of a pillow, was ontop of my bag. Since I could not see the bed, I struggled putting the sheets on, but I estimated I did a decent job. FAIL. Eh oh well. Could be worse…. So im in/on bed at 745 pm, im kinda excited, only sorta tired, so I started counting in my head, or at least I hope it was just in my head, in Hindi.

Within the hour I fell asleep, with the sheets falling off the bed, feet sticking off the end of the bed and out of the curtain. I am sure I was site to see.

I woke about 4am, still 2.5 hrs from arrival time. I have no sheets on the bed. One is on the floor, one is hanging on the chain, half way on a random dude below me. At least I still had the burlap sack on me… I toss and turn in my sleep, my mother can attest to this. Supposedly kick too. That explains the loss of sheets. Since I couldn’t get comfortable, no shocker, I kept turning over and causing my hip to slide across the plastic leather cushion creating a beautiful farting sound. It was a pretty great start to the day.

Side note. This was the second consecutive day I am wearing my blue shirt and third day for the green pants together with these socks not a big deal, but it plays a factor later... There was no changing for bed. You just sleep in what you are wearing. So, anyway day 2 in blue and green. Have not yet begun to smell, noticeably.

Train ride, success. We made it to the destination at 610am. Im groggy, sleepy, dazed and confused. Welcome to Ranchi…