Second base in Delhi
I was barely 18 then. And I had already reached second base. Unwillingly.
And yeah. I lived in Delhi. That must make matters clearer for those of you reading this.
The first incident took place one winter morning. I was walking to college. It was around 8:30. I was a kilometer or so away from my college and i was dressed in my Dad's (very unflattering) sweatshirt and jeans. A guy in a bicycle with milk cans was cycling towards me and he suddenly wobbled. I, very innocently, thought it was because of his heavy cans and tried to move away, but not before he had grabbed my breast and cycled away. I screamed. But no one heard it. I half walked half ran to college. Crying. I was hurting the entire day. Mentally, physically.
The next incident happened a few months later. This time i was on a rickshaw, going on one of the main routes that connected Mayur vihar Phase 2 to Phase 3. It was around 7:30 and I was dressed in the finery of a round neck t-shirt and jeans. A man in a bike over taking us from the left grabbed my breast and sped away. I screamed in pain. Again.
The rickshaw driver turned back and asked if I did not know the guy. I screamed back that I didn't.
What he said next scared me like nothing had ever scared me before. He said that I shouldn't worry and that he would take me safely. I couldn't make out if he meant it or if it was a very sly statement from him. I was too scared to get down from the rickshaw and as scared to stay on it. I sat, wrapping my arms around myself, praying and crying silently.
I wasn't dressed provocatively. I wasn't out too late ( I have had tuition classes that has lasted longer in Chennai). I wasn't even a legal adult then, and I had already been handled so roughly. And don't tell me these kind of things happen in every city. I have lived in 4 different cities. And have you seen the news reports recently?
With all its flaws (small roads, few malls, lots of traffic, power cuts) I'd any day live in Chennai than go back to a place where fear is what rules my day.
I'd rather put up with over protective neighbors than no one caring when I scream.
And yeah. I lived in Delhi. That must make matters clearer for those of you reading this.
The first incident took place one winter morning. I was walking to college. It was around 8:30. I was a kilometer or so away from my college and i was dressed in my Dad's (very unflattering) sweatshirt and jeans. A guy in a bicycle with milk cans was cycling towards me and he suddenly wobbled. I, very innocently, thought it was because of his heavy cans and tried to move away, but not before he had grabbed my breast and cycled away. I screamed. But no one heard it. I half walked half ran to college. Crying. I was hurting the entire day. Mentally, physically.
The next incident happened a few months later. This time i was on a rickshaw, going on one of the main routes that connected Mayur vihar Phase 2 to Phase 3. It was around 7:30 and I was dressed in the finery of a round neck t-shirt and jeans. A man in a bike over taking us from the left grabbed my breast and sped away. I screamed in pain. Again.
The rickshaw driver turned back and asked if I did not know the guy. I screamed back that I didn't.
What he said next scared me like nothing had ever scared me before. He said that I shouldn't worry and that he would take me safely. I couldn't make out if he meant it or if it was a very sly statement from him. I was too scared to get down from the rickshaw and as scared to stay on it. I sat, wrapping my arms around myself, praying and crying silently.
I wasn't dressed provocatively. I wasn't out too late ( I have had tuition classes that has lasted longer in Chennai). I wasn't even a legal adult then, and I had already been handled so roughly. And don't tell me these kind of things happen in every city. I have lived in 4 different cities. And have you seen the news reports recently?
With all its flaws (small roads, few malls, lots of traffic, power cuts) I'd any day live in Chennai than go back to a place where fear is what rules my day.
I'd rather put up with over protective neighbors than no one caring when I scream.
Comments
Post a Comment