ms. ramya u.s.a

Meera stood at the bus stop waiting for 60B. She usually got off from work by 7pm, today she had been delayed by her boss, Meera, I need the presentation within the next hour he had said. Sunil usually came to pick her up on such days. But this week he was in Cochin on a business tour and she knew she had to finish this presentation and be at the bus stop by 8pm to catch the 9pm bus.

The bus stop looked so different at night, during the day it seemed like a small country teeming with life; hordes of people from all walks of life jostling with each other to get into the bus and grab a seat, now it looked like a desert. Meera saw that there were hardly any ladies at the stop, well, atleast I don't have to jostle to get in or fight for seats. A loud noise made Meera turn around, she saw 4 men throwing Limca bottles on the ground, they were laughing loudly and obviously looked like they were having a good time. Must be drunk, why don't they go some place else? Oh God, where is that bus?

As the bus roared to a start, the smell of diesel hit her nostrils. She inhaled it with eyes closed and slight smile on her lips, she was one of the few people who liked petrol-diesel smell. Meera noticed that she was the only woman in the bus, she also saw that the drunk men were with her in the bus. She pulled her bag close to her chest and waited for her stop. Suddenly, she felt someone tug at the sari, she saw that one of those men was sitting behind her and leering at her. She clutched her pallu tightly and ignored the man. Soon, three men surrounded her and started passing lewd remarks. Just two more stops thought Meera and I will be home. Then they started touching her; they pulled her cheeks and pinched her thighs. Meera had had enough don't you have a sister or mother at home? Have you no shame? Do you want me to call the police? What do yo... she stopped abruptly when she saw one man in the group brandish a knife. Oh God somebody please help me she screamed, begging the other passengers for help. None of them moved, it was as if someone had cast a spell on them and turned them into stone. When the bus driver finally mustered courage, the damage was already done. Meera was stabbed twice in the shoulder and the men had escaped with her purse and whatever jewelry they could grab from her. Meera is now making a slow recovery at GM hospital. The physical wounds may heal but will the emotional scars go away?

This report is fine, now go find out what others have to say about this incident, my editor barked at me. The best place to start would be her neighbours I thought. Aaahh Meera I saw her on that morning when she left home, she was wearing a sleeveless blouse. In my opinion, men are lecherous, and we as women should dress appropriately and not give these men any opportunities to take advantage of us. If she had dressed properly this would have never happened said Kalyani who lived next to Meera's. Who asked her to take a bus at that hour? She could have paid extra and taken an auto. She has only herself to blame for this said Prakash the man who owned a coffee shop near the bus stop.

I always thought freedom meant having the right to live life as one wishes. Has India and it citizens really gained independence?

Source: Delhi incident

This post's title is inspired by a ms. ramya u.s.a who wrote in her comment (in the Delhi article):

ramya,usa,says:These incidents happen everywhere. Let girls and women dress in decent manner which will not attract men who are in sexual need. These days women wear anything which was used to cover only head or handkeys... Girls and women why do you bother men and put yourself in trouble. It is certain this will happen again somewhere sometime.
[23 Jun, 2009 0341hrs IST]

and to Haris who wrote:

Haris,Delhi,says:She was going from Seelampur to Shahdra at 8pm? WHy couldnt she take Delji Metro? So uch safer and convenient, for two more rupees. Its inexplicable!
[23 Jun, 2009 0302hrs IST]