Then may railways used out all available and unclaimed quotas for claimants. and your fellow traveller was one such who was allotted FT quota. If we see this 'quota' business, it is just earmarking certain berths for travellers under various categories. So it may look a matter of wonder, but it is a usual business. And the quota marked for different categories could be marked in chart and ticket due to computer programming. I do not see any irregularity. . Just like 'upgradation' even agents can do little or nothing. So here FT quota could have come to 'fellow traveller' that way.
Yet Agent approach proper area faster than a layman could.