How I met my first molester

“When is a safe time for women to leave for home from office in the evening? 8 pm? 7 pm? 6 pm?

I left office at 5 pm that day. I had to run some errands and I left early to get a head start. I took the bus, found a seat and sat down for the long journey. I paid for my ticket when the bus conductor came by, and when I leaned back into my seat, I felt a hand touch my back; a hand that was squeezed between the seat and the window just to feel me up. I turned around, feeling shocked and violated. The sight that greeted my eyes disgusted me to the core. I saw the molester smiling back at me. I got up from my seat and asked him to explain his actions, as I trembled in anger. He continued smiling at me, not responding.

I got up, and moved to another seat. I looked back again and the man was staring at me.

I had a feeling of dread creeping all over me. I didn’t know if I should raise an alarm or let this go - I was afraid he would alight from the bus and stalk me if I made a hue and cry about this. On the other hand, I was furious about what I had to go through. I stopped leaving at 4pm.

I thought that somehow, not leaving at 4 pm is a solution. What next? Do I stop taking the public transport? Do I weigh the pros and cons of taking my molester to task, who is probably looking forward to torturing another hapless woman? Do I change offices? Do I change streets?

What do I do?”

The signs are everywhere

These are issues we are well aware of – but we have waited for the next big assault, the next horrific rape, the next brutal attack to wake us out of our slumber. They say it’s never too late to do something, but in this case, it is. Now is the time to show that we don’t want to wait anymore.

Alarm Bajne Se Pehle Jaago Re!