Two days back, I went to pick up food from a restaurant at about 21:30 hrs. Normally, I do not like to venture out at such times on the bike, alone. But my dad, who was visiting, expressed a desire to eat Mutton Biriyani. Since the restaurant did not have delivery boys that day, I did the needful. All the time mumbling prayers and shuddering at horrible thoughts I got to the hotel. I have been told that people could snatch the bags off your shoulders. A terrible incident had happened recently, where a couple with their two kids were on a bike, returning home. Two bikers with helmets on, came towards them in full speed, snatched the lady’s purse and headed in the opposite direction. The lady fell off the bike. She had to undergo 2 surgeries in the head alone. She has lost vision in one eye. They have put some spring in the head due to which, she is discouraged from bending down, for at least a year. Of course, she is going to be confined to the bed for a long time.
Sorry for deviating a bit. But anyways, here I was heading back. As I was approaching home, I saw a man who had fallen off his cycle. He seemed to be trying to get up. I slowed down and so did another lone lady rider ahead of me. The men were zipping past. But I stopped beside her and told her that he must be drunk. Let us move on. As I carried on, I felt bad at having judged him. Yes, we do see men just napping on the road after drinking themselves silly. But maybe this was not the case here. I should have ascertained whether he was drunk before moving on. He could have just been a poor old man who lost his balance.
But I fear. Fear to get caught in a crazy situation. If he was drunk, he could get all gropy and stuff. After all, we were just two women who wanted to help him. But I do still feel bad at having judged him. I asked God for forgiveness and also prayed for timely help for that man.
I don’t fear ghosts and stuff. But I do fear Man. Men, who sometimes crazed by desire are capable of doing the unthinkable. There are so many wonderful men out there. I know so many personally, But just one bad experience can ruin a lot for a woman. Another incident comes to mind. Happened about 8 years back. I had injured my back in an accident. I had difficulty walking. At times the pain was unbearable. I had left my bike at the garage and was heading to pick it up. It was about 12 in the afternoon. The place where I stayed at that time had a kind of long drive-in. Normally, the road that it led to would not have any autos. So we had to a bit of a distance to the main road. That day as I walked down the drive-in, I saw an auto parked and thanked my lucky stars. He agreed to take me to my destination. I sat in with terrible difficulty.
Since I was seated, I expected him to proceed. But he did not. I asked him to start. He said he would, but did not. Then he asked me to reach out at the back and hand him the cloth lying there. I did. I thought that he wanted to clean something. But he was just winding it around his hand. Then I realised with terrible fear about what was on his agenda. There was just one old lady hobbling along and he was waiting for her to pass. I opened my mouth to scream and no sound came out. My legs turned heavy and I knew my injured back would not allow me to move fast enough. But with all the courage I had, I pushed myself out of the auto. The blood had totally drained out of my face.
He then told me: Ok madam, let us go. But I just moved ahead of the auto and started hailing at an approaching car. The car stopped. It was my brother and his wife. They saw the fear in my face, but I was unable to speak. I just pointed at the auto and mumbled. My SIL immediately got hold of me and my brother gave that fleeing auto a chase. But he did not find him. Even today as I write this, I have goose bumps.
Now I step into autos mostly accompanied by other people or if the driver is a real old man. If he tries to act fresh, I can hope to overpower him!
Sorry for deviating a bit. But anyways, here I was heading back. As I was approaching home, I saw a man who had fallen off his cycle. He seemed to be trying to get up. I slowed down and so did another lone lady rider ahead of me. The men were zipping past. But I stopped beside her and told her that he must be drunk. Let us move on. As I carried on, I felt bad at having judged him. Yes, we do see men just napping on the road after drinking themselves silly. But maybe this was not the case here. I should have ascertained whether he was drunk before moving on. He could have just been a poor old man who lost his balance.
But I fear. Fear to get caught in a crazy situation. If he was drunk, he could get all gropy and stuff. After all, we were just two women who wanted to help him. But I do still feel bad at having judged him. I asked God for forgiveness and also prayed for timely help for that man.
I don’t fear ghosts and stuff. But I do fear Man. Men, who sometimes crazed by desire are capable of doing the unthinkable. There are so many wonderful men out there. I know so many personally, But just one bad experience can ruin a lot for a woman. Another incident comes to mind. Happened about 8 years back. I had injured my back in an accident. I had difficulty walking. At times the pain was unbearable. I had left my bike at the garage and was heading to pick it up. It was about 12 in the afternoon. The place where I stayed at that time had a kind of long drive-in. Normally, the road that it led to would not have any autos. So we had to a bit of a distance to the main road. That day as I walked down the drive-in, I saw an auto parked and thanked my lucky stars. He agreed to take me to my destination. I sat in with terrible difficulty.
Since I was seated, I expected him to proceed. But he did not. I asked him to start. He said he would, but did not. Then he asked me to reach out at the back and hand him the cloth lying there. I did. I thought that he wanted to clean something. But he was just winding it around his hand. Then I realised with terrible fear about what was on his agenda. There was just one old lady hobbling along and he was waiting for her to pass. I opened my mouth to scream and no sound came out. My legs turned heavy and I knew my injured back would not allow me to move fast enough. But with all the courage I had, I pushed myself out of the auto. The blood had totally drained out of my face.
He then told me: Ok madam, let us go. But I just moved ahead of the auto and started hailing at an approaching car. The car stopped. It was my brother and his wife. They saw the fear in my face, but I was unable to speak. I just pointed at the auto and mumbled. My SIL immediately got hold of me and my brother gave that fleeing auto a chase. But he did not find him. Even today as I write this, I have goose bumps.
Now I step into autos mostly accompanied by other people or if the driver is a real old man. If he tries to act fresh, I can hope to overpower him!
2 comments:
Its always better to stay away from these lonely drunken men, esp during nights. For all we know, their one act of foolishness in the drunken state can leave the woman with a scar for life.
Good, u didn't stop and offer ur help.
Dont feel bad that he might be somebody truly deserving help.
The situations in which we're living have led us to this level.
Take care.
Gosh tht first incident is terrible....tht poor woman...scarred for life..I cant even bear to imagine...it cd have been any one of us.
U knw I dont blame u 1 bit for not stopping....people cannot be trusted anymore. Such a sad situation but true. If anything bad had happened bcoz of ur stopping, nobody[not even u] will understand wht made u stop so late for a complete stranger....it wd be like u were asking for trouble:-(.
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