When you read the title you may think that, I had spent a night without sleeping but drinking beer. But the truth is that, I was not able to sleep and I had to drink. It was not my choice. In fact it was the only choice. We were heading to Beijing from Shanghai in a luxury train. To me it looked like an aero plane. Its interior was designed in such a way that one would enjoy the journey. We board the train from Shanghai railway station. Well that Railway station itself looked bigger than Cochin International Airport. Well I am not insulting the airport; I am just stating a fact. As I said inside train in a single room only 4 people would occupy. 2 upper births and 2 lower. And the bed looked exactly the same you would find in a five star Hotel. Softest pillows made the perfect finishing to the design as well. Each passenger could watch video of their choice from the television fixed against the wall. I wonder what else you need to have a nice journey. I thought of comparing Indian Railway with the Shanghai Railway. With all respect I have for Indian Railway, I buried that thought in the very next moment.
When we bored the train, in our room nobody was there. I and Emmanuel sir settled the heavy luggage under our seat. We were told by the attenders who looked more beautiful than the airhosts that the other two passengers would get in when the train reaches the next stop. I thought 2 Chinese people would check in. Soon I started reading a book and Emmanuel Sir went to have a stroll inside the train. Believe me; you can walk till the end of the train through compartments. When Emmanuel sir returned, I started moving inside the train. I was strolling through the compartments and stopped in one of them. I didn’t want to stop. But my mind sent the red signal to the legs to pause and watch. It was a restaurant inside the train. I had a cold coffee and moved on. After reaching near the loco pilot I started walking back to my compartment. In 15 minutes I reached back and knocked at the door. I was surprised see a lady opening the door. Then I came to understand that our fellow passengers have bored the train when it stopped in the last station. But I never knew it stopped somewhere. They were 2 French people. Looked like students. We exchanged pleasantries and I came to understand that they were Lucy and David.
Soon I returned to my book, so did Emmanuel Sir. He was reading another book of course. When it was 10.30pm Emmanuel sir wanted to sleep. So did the French guys who were settled on the above birth. Though there were two births, they found it easy to settle on a single bed. Since it was not my business; I decided to switch off the lights. When I was about to switch off, Lucy got down from David’s bed and went up to her bed which was just opposite to David’s. Initially my Indian mind thought they were couples. But Then I understood they were friends. But My Indian mind was right. Little did I know that they would steal away my sleep! Little did I know that they would make love in train with all the sounds which would come out in the love making! I stretched on my bed and closed my eyes. I was about to fall in sleep. Then I was pulled back. It was loud moaning of somebody startled my sleep. When I opened my eyes in the dim light, slowly I could see David in Lucy’s bed. I wondered how two of them could adjust on it. But when love. Wait should I call it love or sex?
I will go with the latter. When sex is on nothing matter but sex. I have read somewhere that narrow spaces increases the seduction. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. Slowly they started whispering something in French. Their whispers pierced my ears and I could not sleep. First time in my whole life I hated the language French. First time in my whole life I hated whispers. I stoop up. When they saw me standing up they started behaving as if nothing was happening. Lucy even snored. Had she acted in French films, she would have won Oscar. I opened the door and started walking in the train again. I sadly realized how much I miss my sleep. I walked and walked along. When I reached the restaurant, I saw beer bottles decorated inside the fridge as if inviting me for a drink. I bought one bottle and settle on a couch. I felt relaxed sipping it and watching the trees and buildings falling behind me outside the window. I didn’t even realize when the bottle became empty. So I went again and bought 3 more bottles. When I settled myself on that couch, I realized how much I am missing everyone in India, everything in India. Indian Railway may not be as good as Shanghai railway. But as I took the last sip from the third bottle I came to know how much I missed the general compartments of Indian railway. When I was done with the third bottle I decided not to drink anymore and started walking back to my compartment. Then only I tried to think what would be happening inside the room. If their lovemaking didn’t finish, I would be witnessing a porn stunt LIVE! In fact FRENCH PORN in CHINESE TRAIN. I thought how funny the title ‘FRENCH PORN IN THE CHINESE TRAIN’ would look like in a porn site. Then I decided to have another bottle and went back to the restaurant. Lady who was there in the Restaurant might have thought I could be one of the few insane who would spend 5456 Rupees for the train ticket, Just to drink beer inside the train. When I finished the fourth bottle it was around 5 in the morning. I decided to go back to the room and also decided to see any show which would be running inside. But when I opened the door, I was surprised to see David and Lucy sleeping in their respective places. Lucy was snoring. This time it was original and equally horrible. I took my book and went back to the same restaurant and started reading with another bottle of bear. As the pages were leaving behind the liquid in the bottle also started dipping down. And it was over in few minutes. Few pages were left in the book to finish it off. But the fuel was over and I bought another bottle. As I took the last sip from it, I had closed the book too.
When the train stopped at Beijing south station Lucy and David thanked us for a wonderful journey. You guys fucked my sleep and thanking for a wonderful journey? That is what I wanted to said. But I wished them the same instead. We got down from the train and I yawned and let a deep sigh.
Thanks for your time
Sharath Muthirakkal
