Dear Mr. Innocent,
You are standing inches away from me in this crowded compartment of the Delhi metro. I see you gawking at me and you turn your head the other way. I fasten my grip on the pole to prevent myself from falling, so do you. The cold steel of the pole suddenly feels warm and I notice your fingers have crept up to where my hand lies.
I move my hand farther away; not because you are an untouchable but because I'm uncomfortable. Don't look at me as if I accused you of harassing me. Not yet anyway. I turn my head around to avoid the awkwardness. But when I glance in your direction by mistake, I find you trying to bury a hole in my top with your gaze. You have the most nonchalant expression I've seen; as if this was your birth right.
Let me tell you in that one minute you got me second guessing everything. 'Is this too low?, Is something visible?, Should I not travel in the common coach anymore?, Was my mom right in asking me not to buy this push-up bra?, Am I to react or not make a big deal of this?'
So, pardon me for my upcoming scowl and language. I hope it makes you feel as uncomfortable as you make me feel. You are the reason I have trust issues. You are the reason why I prefer to travel by the ladies coach, why I give the nasty eye to any guy who touches me innocuously, why I don't feel secure even amongst an ocean of people.
In a country where you and I are bound by the same laws and given the same rights; my freedom doesn't taste as sweet as yours. So, the next time you boast about your masculinity and throw your head back, laughing over feminism; remember you are the living justification of why it was ever born.
When I give you the stink eye in public or launch into a brawl over your "slightly" insensitive comment, don't think for a second that I'm creating a scene. Just imagine every "innocent" peek you've ever taken and the degree of discomfort you caused all those women.
Call me shameless if you will, but I won't turn red by your not so discreet ogling. I will not be subjugated to become a victim of this predicament. And yes, I will continue to preach if I can alter the mentality of even a single person.
Yours tenaciously,
Every girl
You are standing inches away from me in this crowded compartment of the Delhi metro. I see you gawking at me and you turn your head the other way. I fasten my grip on the pole to prevent myself from falling, so do you. The cold steel of the pole suddenly feels warm and I notice your fingers have crept up to where my hand lies.
I move my hand farther away; not because you are an untouchable but because I'm uncomfortable. Don't look at me as if I accused you of harassing me. Not yet anyway. I turn my head around to avoid the awkwardness. But when I glance in your direction by mistake, I find you trying to bury a hole in my top with your gaze. You have the most nonchalant expression I've seen; as if this was your birth right.
Let me tell you in that one minute you got me second guessing everything. 'Is this too low?, Is something visible?, Should I not travel in the common coach anymore?, Was my mom right in asking me not to buy this push-up bra?, Am I to react or not make a big deal of this?'
So, pardon me for my upcoming scowl and language. I hope it makes you feel as uncomfortable as you make me feel. You are the reason I have trust issues. You are the reason why I prefer to travel by the ladies coach, why I give the nasty eye to any guy who touches me innocuously, why I don't feel secure even amongst an ocean of people.
In a country where you and I are bound by the same laws and given the same rights; my freedom doesn't taste as sweet as yours. So, the next time you boast about your masculinity and throw your head back, laughing over feminism; remember you are the living justification of why it was ever born.
When I give you the stink eye in public or launch into a brawl over your "slightly" insensitive comment, don't think for a second that I'm creating a scene. Just imagine every "innocent" peek you've ever taken and the degree of discomfort you caused all those women.
Call me shameless if you will, but I won't turn red by your not so discreet ogling. I will not be subjugated to become a victim of this predicament. And yes, I will continue to preach if I can alter the mentality of even a single person.
Yours tenaciously,
Every girl
Hi arushi, perfectly written like veteran writer.i like ur style.keep posting.
ReplyDeleteI see you are in gandhinagar..it will be privilege for me to talk to you. WhatsApp:8460580425
Thank you so much for the appreciation :)
Delete