Be Bold For Change

I checked my watch again, it was 9:15 am but my college bus was still not here. I called the driver and came to know that the bus broke down mid-way, the driver asked me to go by my own. For an instance, I thought of going back to home and enjoy my day but public transport bus arrived at same time. Reluctantly I boarded the bus, took the ticket and searched for a vacant seat but all the seat were occupied, so I was left with no other option but to stand. I was clenching the steel rod above me tightly to resist sudden jerks. After the song 'tum hi ho' ended on bus radio, the radio jockey quoted a quote 'Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful'. I loved the quote and my lips supported it, but the next moment itself I was taken aback when I realized that someone is groping me from behind. I looked back a man in late 30s was staring at me with a weird smile on his face, I got really scared. I wanted to ask for help, so I looked at people around. Some people were totally aware that the guy was molesting me in public but they were unaffected by it, others just looked away trying to avoid the situation and to my surprise a group of young guys were giggling.

I wanted to help myself but I froze, my hands were not moving, vocal chords were distorted. I was feeling so humiliated and was about to cry when the radio jockey told another quote by Mahatma Gandhi 'If someone slaps you on one side of your face, turn the other one to him'. I don't know but somehow I got the courage, I turned back and said loudly, "Bhaiya, if you are done with back portion you can have me from front also after all I am also a public property just like this bus."

The guy got so scared and at that instant he ran towards the door and got down from the bus. I took a sigh of relief and patted myself for having the courage to confront him.

The next stop was mine. I went near the door as the next song on radio ended, the radio jockey told another quote 'The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality'. I looked at the people in bus - some eyes looked away, some were down in shame and some still unaffected. The bus stopped and I got down from the bus.