When I entered the compartment, I noticed her looking around and assumed she was waiting for someone. I hadn't realized she was checking if the person whose seat she'd taken had arrived.
I didn't want to cause a scene on my way home, so I calmly opened my ticket app and showed her my booking details. "This is indeed my seat. See? Here's my ticket information," I said patiently, holding my phone up to her.
Her expression changed briefly before she returned to her defiant stance. She raised her voice. "What's wrong with you? There are so many people in this compartment, yet you're picking on an old lady like me! It's just a seat! Do you want to drive me to my death?"
Her sudden outburst left me frozen in place. The entire compartment turned to stare at us and I felt my face flush with embarrassment and anger. "This is my seat! You're the one who took it. How am I the one pushing you to the brink?" I retorted, raising my voice.
I felt a little wronged and speechless in my heart. What bad luck to run into this on my way home for the holidays.