Don’t travel alone. Stay hungry, stay in dark, don’t go to school,
don’t work, don’t step outside your house; if you have to, never do it alone;
and while you are inside, watch out for cousins, uncles and fathers.
If you are a girl thinking this is one of those exaggerated
feminists posts, try getting somewhere by taking a cab after 12 am in your
city. If you are a guy thinking such horror stories happen in a parallel
universe and you are not a part of it, good for you.
For the background, am staying at a reputable hotel in
Churchgate, Mumbai – a well known posh and hence intuitively a safe area. A
place with a good reputation. I am also a person of good reputation. So far, so
good.
I am a person and I am entitled to have my dinner at 11:50
pm or whenever I want. I call up room service but due to pest control activity
the kitchen is closed. The nearby Mc Donald delivers till 12, I call them up,
register my number but its 11:57 now and they take orders only till 11:55.
Sacrosanct deadlines, sure. Ok, McD is hardly 1 km away, I can take a cab. Its
Mumbai after all.
Lesser traffic on roads but still people are there. I see a
girl happily chatting, but she has 2 guys to give her company. Men, such a
brave species! I am already all alert
with heightened senses, sixth included. A police jeep passes by, I feel relived
– of what? So much trust can only be a mark of a weak or of a fool.
Subconsciously I scan the drivers of the cabs lined up ahead. This one looks
old and genuine.
“Colaba, Mc Donalds”,
I feign a strong stern confident voice. I am petrified.
Meter down, yes am going okay, roads are emptier, but I just
saw a Jaguar. That is reassuring – why!?
The taxi is at a decent speed, If I have to jump down will I
be hurt a lot…why did I lose my pepper spray…he interrupts.
“Madam aap Colaba
rehti hain?” Is he trying to figure out why am I traveling alone at this
hour? What if am not going home? What if I am going for a party? Will he judge
me? Should I be going home?
“Nahin bhaiya, vapas
aana h, 5 min ruk ke” I talk in straight and crisp voice. “Aap rukenge?” May be that’s why he had asked me. See, old he is, he is a
good person after all. Its Mumbai remember, and I just saw a Jaguar on road. It
all fits, I must be safe.
“Koi ni mein wait
karlunga, aap khana le aaiye. Kaam ki bhi baat karni h”
“Accha. Kya kaam ki
baat karni h” I am near Mc Donalds now. I fake a respectful and curious
voice. I don’t want to warn him, I don’t want to sound scared. I want him to
let me get off the taxi.
“Madam mein film
story writer hun” my alarm bell goes
off. I still can’t afford to offend or warn him. Who knows.
Does he think am a prostitute, does he think am some
struggler new to Mumbai and he can use me or something, but I boarded taxi from
a reputable location…aren’t these people found in some fixed red areas..
Am out of taxi, I
feign a phone call.
“Yeah I am just
outside, McD…coming up 2 minutes”
“Bhaiyya tym lag
jayega, aap nikal jaiye” see am
being reasonable. So please if you are a rapist, don’t hold any grudge against
me, and don’t lurk in the corner when I go back.
I take my parcel from McD, now I should cross the road and
get a taxi from the other side. I must be looking really vulnerable with this
packed McD bag and drink, I cross the road. There are still some people on the
road, it is not that eerie. 2-3 people are standing over there and chatting
near cars, they look alright. Should I walk near them and wait for a taxi. Why
are they looking at me weirdly? A taxi comes and stops in front of me. A quick
look at the driver and I shook my head and tell him to move ahead. Second cab driver came, he also stopped without me
giving him any signal. A blue cab – a cool cab – safer?
“Churchgate?”
“Vaise to VT ja raha
hun, but thik h baitho” You are not supposed to be on road, I will do a
favor , am going VT, but still I will drop you. Or just get inside, I will rape
you.
“Nai aap jaiye, koi
ni” Polite again. I am already pleading, for what?
Another taxi is
coming, I stop this one waving my hand and exuding confidence.
“Churchgate”
“Signal se hi left
nhi lega churchgate pe, only right”
“Koi ni aap signal pe
hi utar dena” See I know my way around here, I am not new, beware!
I sit in the cab and take out my phone. Another feigned
call.
“Yep I got the cab,
and food too, come at the signal I will meet you there. Hardly 2 minutes. Yes,
just took a left now, coming coming” See am on phone, somebody knows where
I am, beware!
I dial 100 on phone, just one button and there will be call,
just in case…
He drops me at my place and I in my head I thank him with
all my heart. I cross the road and walk quickly to my hotel. I am inside my
room. Its only 12:20. Its been only 20 minutes. Not feeling hungry anymore. I
am shaking.
I have only one thought in my mind,” I am not supposed to feel this way”
If only men were this scared of letching and committing
sexual crimes.
I wonder, if I go out every day after 12 am outside, how
many days after which I will be eventually raped.
