Last evening I recalled an unpleasant incident that happened sometime back.
I took a shared auto rickshaw while coming back to my home from Hazratganj and occupied a seat in the left corner. A girl my age sat in the middle and another guy in his early 40s took the seat in the right corner.
The auto rickshaw had traveled almost a mile, when I noticed the girl squeezing up towards me. I had my headphones on, trying to listen to my favourite music so I didn't pay attention the first time. But when it happened repeatedly, I decided to speak to the girl in order to save myself from any controversy. The moment I turned towards the girl, I saw that the guy in the left corner was trying to touch her inappropriately and that's why the girl was trying to move away from him. I could only imagine the helplessness that the girl probably felt.
I looked towards the auto driver through the rear view mirror in anger and it seemed that he already knew what I had just realized because he stopped the auto rickshaw. I asked that guy to get out. After a brief argument, we realised that the guy was drunk and got out without making a big deal.
It's unfortunate how religion is being used to manipulate the rape cases. Certain people on both sides try to turn such cases into a Hindu vs Muslim fight which it is not. Whether Kathua, Unnao, Aligarh or Bhopal.. such cases will always raise the question on the safety and the empowerment of women. All of the state governments should take strict measures now. Beat the Romeos if you have to. Punch the guys who pass comments on girls or follow them on empty streets. All men should learn the lesson.
Ladies, please speak out. All the fathers, husbands and brothers, pay attention to any kind of abuse and act accordingly.
