After that, I couldn’t understand how that fellow managed to stitch the suit and hand it over to me in just five minutes. Or perhaps, among the ones already there, he picked out one that had been stitched for someone else, and since I was in a hurry, he thought he could just give it to me and make another one for the other person later! With this suspicion in mind, I wondered if that’s what he had done. But then I thought, “Why should I care how he manages? My work is done, isn’t it?” Satisfied, I folded everything neatly, carefully put it back in the box, and stored it safely. After resting for a while, I got up at one o’clock and prepared for lunch. At that hour, there was no one to be seen in the dining hall except me.

I assumed that everyone here must have gone off to their own work and probably eat at some hotel or the other. The attendant immediately served me some refreshments. After finishing the snacks, I went back to my room and lay down. I didn’t wake up from that bed until four o’clock. I wondered what sort of mad sleep had overtaken me! After washing my face and wandering about for a bit, I decided to step out onto the street. Afraid that I might lose my way if I went too far, I confined myself to that street, observing the shops, the passersby, the people rushing about, and the various vehicles. Without even realizing it, six o’clock had come around. I immediately returned to my lodging. Just then, Menon arrived.

“Is all the packing done? We’re traveling tonight, aren’t we?” he asked.

“I’m not late at all. We’re traveling tonight,” I replied.

“In that case, let’s have dinner. Come along,” he said. We finished dinner in fifteen minutes and returned to my room.

“Have you packed all your things carefully?” Menon asked.

“Yes, everything is packed,” I replied.

“Are the clothes all right?” he asked.

“Would you buy them if they weren’t?” I retorted. But I must tell you about my little predicament! I’m dying to know how that fellow managed to stitch the suit so quickly, I said. Menon burst out laughing and said, “They always have some ready-made ones—”

Barrister Parvateesam

They stitch and keep them like that. When new arrivals come, they give each person whatever fits them.

Generally, for a person of a certain height, the arms will be this long, the chest this wide, the neck this length, the waist this size, the legs this long—there’s a calculation for everything. They stitch accordingly. Except in rare cases, these standard sizes usually fit most people. With this explanation, he cleared my doubt.

“Did you put on the baniyan-like thing you bought this morning underneath?” he asked.

“No,” I replied.

“Then why did you buy it, my dear fellow? To wear, or just to keep in your trunk? You’ll be traveling at night. It’ll be much colder then. Put those on first,” he said.

“Will just one baniyan suffice, or should I wear something like a shirt over it as well?” I asked.

“You should wear both,” he said.

“Good heavens!” I exclaimed. I had to untie everything I had just put on and tried to wear those underclothes. They wouldn’t go on easily. It was like trying to pull on a pair of tight socks.

They were so tight, it almost felt like they were pricking my body. “What’s this? Why did you give me such tight ones?” I asked. “They’re supposed to be like that. Wear them for two days and they’ll loosen up. When they cling to your body, you’ll know how warm and comfortable they are! It feels as pleasant as embracing a woman,” he said with a laugh.

“Look at this fellow, spouting nonsense as if he spends his days hugging women,” I thought to myself, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“All these things you’ll understand in time,” he said, and then, “Let’s get going.” I quickly finished dressing, packed my things again, and came outside. Menon called the servant who was there. The man brought my luggage and placed it on the street. We walked into the hall, and there I went up to the formidable lady manager.

“I’m leaving for Edinburgh now. If you tell me how much my bill is, I’ll settle it,” I said. The bill, already prepared—how or when it had been made ready, I couldn’t tell—was handed to me from the table. I paid the amount at once. She handed me the receipt with a gentle smile. “Wish you good luck,” she said, wishing me well, and then, “Goodbye,” she bid me farewell.

By the time I stepped out onto the street, Menon had called for a horse carriage, loaded my luggage into it, and told me to get in.

We arrived at the station. Menon bought my ticket and helped me board the train. Even in this train, all the compartments had those beds with benches. I put my luggage under the bench and was about to take out my blanket when Menon stopped me.

“No need to take that out now,” he said. “But how’s that? Won’t it get cold at night? Shouldn’t I at least take my shawl?” I asked.

“No need. Just watch—I’ll perform a magic trick and get you pillows for your head and two rugs to cover yourself,” he said.

Before he could finish speaking, a railway porter arrived, carrying two pillows in white pillowcases and two rugs as heavy as myself, and placed them on the bench. Menon slipped a shilling into his hand. I stood there staring like a simpleton. The servant who brought them left. People were starting to board the train.

Barrister Parvateesam

Meenan looked at me and laughed.

“In this country, the railway company rents these out every day, every minute, even at night. When we get down, we simply leave them in