Train, Travel, & Toilet

Moving toilets are definitely not my thing

‘’Indian train toilets scare the hell out of me.’’

In fact, as a child, commodes, in general, scared me so much. I would refuse to poo or pee in the WC thingy. Because for me, it was a monster ready to suck me into its nasty hole.

And if the toilet moved continuously, I would swear not to let anything come out of my body in any form — a poo or a pee. I would rather die than being sucked into that moving black hole.

A Journey to Remember

I was 8 and I was returning from a religious trip with my grandfather. Yes, quite an oxymoron there. A small girl taking a religious trip. But that was just that one time. That’s it.

On our way back, I had to pee badly. I decided not to tell my grandpa about it.

But he came to know on his own. Can you guess how?

Simple.

I was trying to cross one leg over the other, shifting from one position to another, face covered with struggling expressions, and trying my best to not pee in my pants.

I guess my acting wasn't up to the mark or my grandpa was way too smart.

Either way, he asked me to hold his hand so he can take me to the trains’ moving loo. I refused.

He tried to persuade me to do something I was so desperate for, but I had quite the patience and kept saying no.

But my grandpa didn't have any patience.

He held my little hand and dragged me all the way from our seat to the train’s toilet and that too at night.

Giving other passengers quite a drama of sorts.

A little girl was being dragged and was crying and a ruthless old man carrying her to towards the loo.

Oh common, someone should have at least asked what’s wrong? I don’t remember if they did because my grandfather made sure I peed that night.

Gosh, I hated him so much for doing that.

I hated him for making me empty my bladder and give the relief I had been looking for for centuries. I hated him to have cared for me so much that he didn’t bother about what other people may think about him.

Bhavna Narula, 2021. Thanks a lot for reading.