TIFU by leaving a water heating rod on all night

So this happened when I had just moved to a new city for my first job. I was staying in this tiny, matchbox-sized PG that didn’t have a geyser. The only way to get hot water was solar, which, of course, never worked.

For days, I struggled with ice-cold showers until I finally got myself a water heating rod. My lazy self came up with a brilliant routine—every night, I’d fill a bucket with water, put the rod in, plug it in while it was off, and go to sleep. In the morning, when my first alarm rang, I’d half-consciously reach out, turn the switch on, and go back to sleep. By the time the second alarm went off 20 minutes later, the water would be hot, and I’d get up and take a shower.

One night, I was completely exhausted from work. I followed my usual routine, but this time, I might’ve made a tiny mistake—either I accidentally switched it on before sleeping or it was already on, and I just didn’t check properly.

Next morning, my first alarm rang, and I instinctively reached out to turn the switch on. But as I opened my eyes, I saw... nothing. No bucket. That woke me up real fast. I sat up, looking around in confusion, trying to figure out if someone had come into my room or if I had put the bucket somewhere else.

And then I saw it.

The bucket wasn’t gone—it had melted into a thin, microplastic sheet on the floor. The rod’s wires had melted completely, and the switchboard was burnt black. The entire room had a dark grey haze.

I ran to the bathroom and caught my reflection in the mirror—my face was covered in black residue. I touched my nose, and fine, soot-like dust came off. That’s when it hit me.

I had inhaled burning plastic fumes and carbon monoxide all night without having a single clue.

But here’s the kicker—the lights in my room weren’t working. Turns out, the circuit had tripped at some point, which might’ve been what saved me. If the power hadn’t gone out, there’s a good chance an electrical fire could’ve started.

Between the tripped power and the open vent in my bathroom, I somehow got lucky. Easily one of the dumbest and scariest things I’ve ever done.

TL;DR: Left a water heating rod on all night. Woke up to a melted bucket, burnt switchboard, and a room full of toxic fumes. Inhaled plastic and CO for hours. Power tripped, which might’ve saved me from an electrical fire.

Edit: PG (Paying Guest): A type of accommodation where you rent a room in someone's house, typically with shared facilities like kitchen and bathroom.

Geyser: An appliance used to heat water, usually for showers or baths.

Heating Rod: A portable electric device used to heat water, typically by immersing it in a container filled with water.