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Upgrade - the Godawful version

Last week I am travelling
by railway train
from Bengaluru to Mumbai.
I am having one ticket
sleeper class S7 berth 5.
In compartment there are present
some Gujarati students going home.
They are studying engineering I am thinking.
Then one lady is there
With so many luggages.

Seat is near bogie toilet
and there is smell.
I am thinking to myself
that I am deserving of better.
Like one minister is saying recently
(and getting into trouble with Madam)
this is cattle-class
and I am certainly higher-class.

Why I am doing this?
That is because I am
well-educated (M.Sc. 1st Class)
and having well-paying job also.
Besides I am reading Amartya Sen
and I am seeking company of
like-minded people for
intellectual discussions.
Here they are only reading Filmfare.

So I am asking the TTE
who is checking my ticket
that I will pay the difference of fare
and purchase 3rd AC ticket.
I am able to afford the ticket
so why to be foregoing opportunity?
Why to travel with the masses?
Cattle-class is for them.

So I am paying Rs. 635/-
for upper berth with bed-linen.
and nice, cold AC air.
I am looking at my neighbours
for somebody of high-class type
who are reading Goethe and Aurobindo,
and listening to Aerosmith.
But I am not finding any.

What I am getting
is one group of twelve pilrims
returning from Puttaparthi
who are only taking interest
in talking among themselves
loudly, and also making noise
by cracking peanut shells.
That too throughout the night!

What to do?
I am deserving what I got.

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