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Dedicated to the unknown hero, who changed my attitude towards life.
Dedicated to the unknown hero, who changed my attitude towards life.
Following the dream of making my mark I was travelling to join an internship
at a fertilizer factory in a village of Uttar pradesh. "Reaching there
should not be a problem", the HR told me as the place is near state
capital Lucknow. I was having the notions that being from a premier institute
in India and an independent woman of modern times, I can take things as
they come. I was thoroughly proved wrong by the crowd of people who stood
against the face of humanity as soon as I lodged out of bus, holding the
address of the office in my hand. The Auto wallas tried to touch me, many
advertised about availability of cheap hotels.
“Kahan Jana hai Madam, Chalo hum le
chalen".
Rains of indecent comments followed. I looked at myself what I
have done to invite this. I judged my clothes, as many suggest it provokes the
rapist inside the innocence of man. None of my bare skin was showing apart from
my face and hand (not my arm), my chest covered by a shawl. Still they somehow
managed to be provoked.
" Akele kahan jaogi medam paas
me hotel hai, sasta hai. Akele rukna hai ki koi aur bhi hai, sab intezam ho
jayega".
Women laughed at me from their veils and burkas and the
independent women in me was dishonored, scared and disfigured. Every step I
took I was stepping in a puddle of sewage with hawkers clinging to me. I spent
about 10 minutes and tears began dwelling in my eyes. Where was I? No one was
there to guide me like my father or to keep these agents of humanity away like
my brother. I kept looking at my phone to check any reception of signal but
also to check if it was still there. I managed to move ahead knocking people's
leg and hands in my way, thinking with way to go. Two thoughts came to my mind
as I saw an empty seat in shade. Whether to go back home or take an auto to the
office seemed to be the biggest decision I had to make. I looked ahead and the
time table was in sight. It tempted me to go back as the next bus to comfort of
home was just half an hour away. As I was reading the time table, a man came
blocking my way.
" Kahan jana hai aapko
?" He figured I won’t answer as he saw my teary eyes.
" Behan ji shaam hone wali hai, phir
aap aur musibat me phans jayengi ".
I looked at him as he was true. Still I was overwhelmed to talk
and handed over him the paper.
" Factory to yahan se do ghanta door
hai, aap taxi kar lijiye, Safe pahunch jayengi. Aayiye mai aapko taxi stand tak
pahuncha deta hun."
I picked my bag as he made way for me. he was leading my way
keeping himself ahead of me. After walking about 10 minutes, I could see many
cars standing. I took a sigh when I saw a prepaid taxi counter. The man folded
his hands and I said
“Be safe”, was the only thing he said.
Following the dream of making my mark I was travelling to join an internship
at a fertilizer factory in a village of Uttar pradesh. "Reaching there
should not be a problem", the HR told me as the place is near state
capital Lucknow. I was having the notions that being from a premier institute
in India and an independent woman of modern times, I can take things as
they come. I was thoroughly proved wrong by the crowd of people who stood
against the face of humanity as soon as I lodged out of bus, holding the
address of the office in my hand. The Auto wallas tried to touch me, many
advertised about availability of cheap hotels.
“Kahan Jana hai Madam, Chalo hum le
chalen".
Rains of indecent comments followed. I looked at myself what I
have done to invite this. I judged my clothes, as many suggest it provokes the
rapist inside the innocence of man. None of my bare skin was showing apart from
my face and hand (not my arm), my chest covered by a shawl. Still they somehow
managed to be provoked.
" Akele kahan jaogi medam paas
me hotel hai, sasta hai. Akele rukna hai ki koi aur bhi hai, sab intezam ho
jayega".
Women laughed at me from their veils and burkas and the
independent women in me was dishonored, scared and disfigured. Every step I
took I was stepping in a puddle of sewage with hawkers clinging to me. I spent
about 10 minutes and tears began dwelling in my eyes. Where was I? No one was
there to guide me like my father or to keep these agents of humanity away like
my brother. I kept looking at my phone to check any reception of signal but
also to check if it was still there. I managed to move ahead knocking people's
leg and hands in my way, thinking with way to go. Two thoughts came to my mind
as I saw an empty seat in shade. Whether to go back home or take an auto to the
office seemed to be the biggest decision I had to make. I looked ahead and the
time table was in sight. It tempted me to go back as the next bus to comfort of
home was just half an hour away. As I was reading the time table, a man came
blocking my way.
" Kahan jana hai aapko
?" He figured I won’t answer as he saw my teary eyes.
" Behan ji shaam hone wali hai, phir
aap aur musibat me phans jayengi ".
I looked at him as he was true. Still I was overwhelmed to talk
and handed over him the paper.
" Factory to yahan se do ghanta door
hai, aap taxi kar lijiye, Safe pahunch jayengi. Aayiye mai aapko taxi stand tak
pahuncha deta hun."
I picked my bag as he made way for me. he was leading my way
keeping himself ahead of me. After walking about 10 minutes, I could see many
cars standing. I took a sigh when I saw a prepaid taxi counter. The man folded
his hands and I said
“If anything I can do to return the favor”. Thank you seemed so insignificant.
“Be safe”, was the only thing he said.
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