Shantaram

They wait at the train station for a long time. Suddenly, Prabu says they must rush. Prabu tells Lin to go with a huge man as crowds swarm toward the platform. The man picks Lin up and drags him through the crowd as people scream and sirens blare. The porter bangs their way into one of the carriages, where Lin sees Prabu guarding a seat by lying on it lengthwise as six men try to pull him off. Lin recues him by shoving the men away. The porter throws their luggage down and leaves.

Prabu says they paid 40 rupees for the porter, whose knees—used for clearing space on the trains—are famous. He told the man Lin was mentally slow so that he would help them. When Lin asks why they didn’t buy first-class seats with no drama, Prabu says this is the way to truly experience India. Lin remembers Didier commenting on the difference between India and France. In France, affluent people fight more viciously, without courtesy afterward. Here in India, everyone is good-tempered during the ride, despite the crowded space. Prabu is annoyed when Lin gives his seat to an old man four hours later. He says the way to not feel bad is to not look.