​He had walked for most of the first day to Karur and then got on the train to Chennai (Velů had no money for a ticket but luckily the ticket collector didn't come to the unreserved compartment. He had tried to sleep on the floor near the door. A group of men next to him had played cards and shouted all night. "Aiy! What, new to town eh?” called out a rough voice. Velu opened his eyes. There were a lot of people standing around, but nobody was looking at him.

​

​Unreserved -  not kept for the use of a particular person.

​

​rough - violent; not calm or gentle