Frowning, I was walking down the lane where I got off the bus. I
decided to wait for the next bus at the bus stand. I waited for a while
and not a single bus cam my way. After half an hour or so, I saw few men
singing and laughing coming towards the stand. They started making lewd
comments when they noticed me standing alone at the stop. It was dark
and and not a single vehicle crossed my sight. I was deserted in a place
with horrific goons. They started approaching me and I couldn’t help
but run from that place. Luckily I saw a police station nearby and lost
no time in rushing inside the station. I narrated the whole story to the
constable on duty. He frequently nodded whilst my narration of the
misadventure. I asked him to lodge an FIR against those to which he
replied like this: “Madam ji this is Delhi, everything works like this
only. You should be thankful that nothing happened. Do not get involved
in these police cases; you will waste yours and our time.” While talking
to me curtly he was staring at me with bad intentions.
I am not a celebrity or a woman who has garnered a lot of fame or publicity, am just an ordiary girl. I belong to a middle class family who daily fights for their survival in this never ending race of struggle. A housewife and mother of two – my mother has always kept our needs in forefront than her wishes in life. A government servant who stresses throughout his life just to make sure that we get to see our dream fulfilled is my father. We all live a simple and subtle life, living it with dignity. We middle class people hold our respect in the society as the most prized possession as anything else is just temporary for us. Status and economic stature in society is just materialistic things, but our self-regard is the dearest of all.
One day of my everyday struggling life, I was coming back home from work. I am working in a government job which is sufficient for meeting my ends. I got boarded a bus and was waiting for my turn to buy a ticket. Somebody tapped on my shoulder and I saw an old man asking me to buy his ticket and I did not refuse. The bus, as usual, was jam packed with loads of people on board. The man balanced himself by holding me by my shoulder and I didnot protest. Suddenly I felt a sting of chill when I realised that man was trying to slide his hand on my chest. I shuddered and tried to move his hand away but the immense crowd was giving him more confidence to do it again. I finally decided to get down before my stand arrived.
I was devastated by the reply he gave me when I thought they are the one who can actually protect me from such mishap. But to my utter disappointment, the law enforcement in our country has fallen to such extent that hopelessness prevails everywhere. I came across three cases in only one day which made me realise that the situation for women in India has degraded to this degree that no where a women can feel safe. I come from a middle class family and I require the support of the police to fight against such crimes but if the police itself turns out be a corrupt dealer where will a common man will find justice?
R. Laalima
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