It was never a big deal for me, to be surrounded by men in a metro. I never paid much attention to them and kept myself busy with my phone. But that day was different. And it changed my way of thinking about men.
I clearly remember that day. As usual, I boarded the metro at 10:30 pm from IFFCO Chowk metro station, to get down at Chhatarpur metro station. I was a little late than usual, but I was used to travelling in the metro, so it was fine. I never boarded the ladies coach because you could never get a seat there. Instead, I used to make the men sitting on the seat reserved for ladies get up and used to sit there.
That day, the metro was quite deserted and I easily got a seat. I was busy reading a novel, when I noticed three boys boarding the metro at the next station. They looked like in their mid-twenties and drunk. They also looked like they belonged to good families. They sat right in front of me, next to an old man.
I tried to focus on my novel, but I could feel their eyes scanning me from top to bottom. I cursed myself silently for wearing a skirt that day.
I tried to ignore them but it was impossible. They had reached the next level and now were making lewd comments. I was filled with anger but I knew that taking it out on them was of no use. They were not in their senses but I was. I stood up, gathered my stuff, and moved to the next coach and got a seat there. But it was of no use. The guys had followed me and now were trying to touch me. Two of them sat beside me and started touching me. I was shocked, and at the same time, didn’t know what to do.
I stood up and tried to move from there but the guy in front of me got hold of me and didn’t let me go. Tears welled up in my eyes. I cried for help but there was no one in the coach. I tried to push the guy away but the other two guys were now holding my arms. I was scared. I felt weak in front of them. I didn’t know what was going to happen but I knew it wouldn’t be good for me.
Suddenly, I heard the guy holding me scream in pain. And then I saw the same old man who was in the previous coach, hitting the three guys with his walking stick. The three of them were now on the floor but the man kept on hitting them. I joined him and started kicking them with my six inch high heels.
The metro reached a station and the three of them dragged themselves out of the metro. I sighed with relief. I thanked the old man for helping me. He smiled, said nothing and got down at the next station.
