The Untold Story

It is a fictitious discription of how women now feel in Delhi, after the tragic incident of 16th December,2012 . That day, after getting out from the movie theatre in Saket (a renowned area in South Delhi), I decided to take an autorikshaw up to my home. It was 10pm and I was accompanied by another friend who belongs to the same ‘sex’ as mine, one which is considered as the weaker section and is expected to accept anything and everything. Within few minutes of getting out, we encountered a car which passed us by, while seemingly educated men in that car passed lewd and demeaning comments on us. Yes they were so called ‘educated’ because those comments were in English. I and my friend ignored it, considering it as another normal day in the capital city and approached an auto wala. As expected from Delhi’s autowalas , they won’t help you in any situation and would prefer to stand instead of taking passengers with meter down. We then decided to wait for a bus. Luckily one friend was passing by, while we were waiting and he dropped us home. Next morning I heard news about Nirbhaya, girl who had been raped and brutally beaten up, along with his male friend. They both had also come out of the same theatre yesterday and had faced same issue of transportation. Though they must have felt lucky to get a bus at that time, they were oblivious of the fact that their lives would change completely within an hour. I was shocked to read the complete story. It was terrifying to know what that girl went through and my eyes couldn’t stop crying. She was a doctor in making. Another educated girl, whose life was now shattered. I thought if this education had any positives for us. I only had questions in my mind. What if my friend hadn’t come last night? Could it have been me and my friend? Could this incident be avoided had that auto wala at least taken her home? Were those educated men in car better than those in the bus who committed this heinous crime? Or were they the same, with some shame left in their eyes? These questions kept on revolving in my mind and I couldn’t concentrate on my work. In evening, I couldn’t walk out alone for the market. Actually I didn’t even want to go with someone. I had fear on my face. I was still wondering if I should feel happy about my luck or if I should feel for that brave girl. I decided not to go anywhere and instead involved myself in some work to avoid all thoughts. Thirteen days after this tragedy, ‘Nirbhaya’ has left the world, while all those questions are still unanswered. I still have that fear in me and I think it will take huge efforts from society and government to make this fear fade away. I wake up at night after having bad dreams. I feel I am being followed when I walk on the streets of Delhi and I am not able to travel after 6pm. I am confused if I should wear the western outfits I brought or if they are revealing clothes and men might think I am inviting them to rape me. I am a common girl who till now thought of being safe in her home city. I am that confident girl who fought with her parents to allow her to study and work in the capital, while they relax in the peaceful village. I am a sister, a mother, a wife, a daughter, a girl friend, who till now was the face of this growing nation and confidently competed everywhere but is now afraid to walk alone. I can be found in your college, your office, your locality or in a market and I am looking for your support. Support of not walking besides me, but support of confirmation which assures me that yes one day I will again be able to walk alone, with head held high and confidence of reaching home safely and respectfully.