So, I was eating out, as I have a strong penchant for it, when this man entered. I didn't notice him at first. While I was busy eating, he came and sat at the table right in front of mine, perhaps so that he can get a good glimpse and he was looking at me continuously from that moment onwards. He was middle-aged, clean shaven and had an elephantine figure. The way he was looking at every movement of mine, it made me conscious.
Just for the sake of safety, I decided to leave after he did but to my disappointment he didn't budge even a little from his position. I couldn't sit there the whole evening, so I got up and rushed out of the door. The guard pulled open the door again and I knew that it was for the man. I became so sure of his intentions now. He was definitely after me. I was walking on the pavement and he was walking along the chain of cars that were parked along the road. I was taking small steps allowing him every with every opportunity to take me over. But when I slowed down, so did he. I was scared to the core now. “How can I dodge him?” I was trying hard to think. I turned and started walking in the opposite direction. I crossed the road.
Walking past a few people waiting for the bus, feeling safer, I stopped to have a cola candy. The ice-cream vendor had his mini television on. He obviously couldn't miss his duty for the World Cup Finale, but watching India win was no less important. And just as I tore open the wrapper, a silver car loomed in, next to the vendor's establishment.
"Oh ****! This is the same man." I exclaimed.
He pulled down the glass window, bought a brick of an ice-cream and paid the vendor. He was waiting. I was chewing (because I like to chew my ice-cream not because I was scared). The ice-cream vendor was wondering why the man was still waiting. I moved a little towards the vendor and there was more waiting, chewing and wondering. I pretended to watch the match.
The man finally started the ignition and drove over only to halt the car a little distance away. I saw the rear red lights of the car blinking, with my heart was pounding inside me. I couldn't walk on and I couldn't stay. What was I to do? There was a fear that if I will go the man will somehow catch hold of me and he wouldn't spare me, and then don't know what he will do. Tears were about to roll down my cheeks before which I gathered up the courage to make a move. My home was two minutes away. If only I could reach it without any hurdles, I will be safe. I crossed the road again. I walked on. I had to be quick. The car was still standing. The lights were blinking. I walked on. I reached, slammed the gate behind me and turned to see from in between the gates if the car had followed. There were no signs of it. I breathed a sigh of relief. I made sure the man wasn't there.
Friends scolded me for having gone alone. Maybe I shouldn't have, even though I like it. The man must have been a real pervert. This is what we girls face every day. The place has nothing in the name of security for us. This wasn't the first time I came across such a situation. There have been several such occasions, not just for me but for every girl in town. Even though I can't understand the psychology behind such behaviour from men, I know that we cannot stop. We have to go on with our lives without letting things like these affect us.
Just for the sake of safety, I decided to leave after he did but to my disappointment he didn't budge even a little from his position. I couldn't sit there the whole evening, so I got up and rushed out of the door. The guard pulled open the door again and I knew that it was for the man. I became so sure of his intentions now. He was definitely after me. I was walking on the pavement and he was walking along the chain of cars that were parked along the road. I was taking small steps allowing him every with every opportunity to take me over. But when I slowed down, so did he. I was scared to the core now. “How can I dodge him?” I was trying hard to think. I turned and started walking in the opposite direction. I crossed the road.
Walking past a few people waiting for the bus, feeling safer, I stopped to have a cola candy. The ice-cream vendor had his mini television on. He obviously couldn't miss his duty for the World Cup Finale, but watching India win was no less important. And just as I tore open the wrapper, a silver car loomed in, next to the vendor's establishment.
"Oh ****! This is the same man." I exclaimed.
He pulled down the glass window, bought a brick of an ice-cream and paid the vendor. He was waiting. I was chewing (because I like to chew my ice-cream not because I was scared). The ice-cream vendor was wondering why the man was still waiting. I moved a little towards the vendor and there was more waiting, chewing and wondering. I pretended to watch the match.
The man finally started the ignition and drove over only to halt the car a little distance away. I saw the rear red lights of the car blinking, with my heart was pounding inside me. I couldn't walk on and I couldn't stay. What was I to do? There was a fear that if I will go the man will somehow catch hold of me and he wouldn't spare me, and then don't know what he will do. Tears were about to roll down my cheeks before which I gathered up the courage to make a move. My home was two minutes away. If only I could reach it without any hurdles, I will be safe. I crossed the road again. I walked on. I had to be quick. The car was still standing. The lights were blinking. I walked on. I reached, slammed the gate behind me and turned to see from in between the gates if the car had followed. There were no signs of it. I breathed a sigh of relief. I made sure the man wasn't there.
Friends scolded me for having gone alone. Maybe I shouldn't have, even though I like it. The man must have been a real pervert. This is what we girls face every day. The place has nothing in the name of security for us. This wasn't the first time I came across such a situation. There have been several such occasions, not just for me but for every girl in town. Even though I can't understand the psychology behind such behaviour from men, I know that we cannot stop. We have to go on with our lives without letting things like these affect us.
I am impressed with your creativity and concern for women folk.I am happy for you faced the situation boldly and courageously.I think you saved yourself from a haunting and ugly situation.Keep it up!They need to be bashed up publicly to rid them of their brazen advances and I expect you to do that next time!Bravo!
ReplyDeleteB.A.Benjamin