Inspired By Horror

Raji was going home from her friend Sudha’s place. She was accompanied by two of her classmates Shweta and Rama. Their exams were over and today was the last day .All her friends had planned to meet at Sudha’s home and have fun. The three girls were talking animatedly, though their faces told that they were tired. Their faces glowed with happiness relief after stressful studies for exams. They had written their exams well and had clear plans for their future studies. All the four girls, including Sudha were very close friends and were planning to go to the same college though they could be taking different subjects.

It was not very dark as it was summer time and the road was also not too isolated. The three girls were walking at a medium pace lost in their own world, intermittently giggling as one of them said something in the lighter vein. Raji sensed some movement behind them and through the edge of her eyes she noticed that two men were following them. Their intentions did not seem to be good. She articulated to her friends by her eyes that they are being followed. The men were becoming bolder as they sensed that the girls had noticed them and started passing vulgar comments, and very soon they became aggressive, assuming that they were weak minded.

The girls continued their walk pretending not to have noticed the men. As the two men got closer to them, the girls stopped in the midway abruptly and Sweta generously sprinkled pepper spray on to the eyes of the men. She always carried the spray with them and was thrilled that they got an opportunity to practically find a use for it. She was known amongst her friends for her boldness. The men were totally taken aback at this unanticipated response. They were shouting at the top of their voices both in pain and at the insult, threatening to destroy the girls. The girls were also no less! They pulled out few dried branches of wild bushes on the road side and started beating the guys and shouting at the same time trying to attract attention of the passersby. Raji was horrified and started crying. Few people came forward noticing the commotion and soon there was a big crowd. The crowd bet the two men blue and black and finally took them to the nearby police station.

The girls lodged a complaint at the police station. In the complaint Sweta made it a point to mention that as the two men were walking behind them trying to attract their attention by passing obscene comments, there were few passersby who could have intervened and yet did not react and crossed them. In fact the callousness of onlookers makes it easy for the offenders to perpetrate the crime against women. Instead of expressing shock and disgust after the incidence had taken place , if the public takes initiative to nip it at the bud wherever possible , the women would be safer.

Soon the parents of the girls arrived at the police station and like a typical parent, Raji’s father started off scolding her for having gone out on her own and getting into trouble. But Sweta’s father pacified him and said that instead of discouraging the girls from going out, they should be encouraged and empowered to protect themselves, the way they did today. Girls cannot be kept within the four walls, they should enjoy their fundamental right to move freely. Only thing is they need to be little careful and strong minded.

It would be one of the worst days in the life of the three girls. The reaction of the girls to the same incidence was very different. Raji was completely shaken and horrified. She was timid and shy by nature and the mere thought of what could have happened to them if Sweta did not have pepper spray, sent shivers down her spine. Sweta’s thoughts were totally in the different direction. Her goal to be a police officer firmed up after this incidence. Rama regained her composure quickly and did not show any further reaction .

The Police Officer attending to the case was impressed by Sweta’s mindset and in his mind he concluded that she has the right ingredients to become a police officer. When he casually asked Sweta what was her career goal, she replied that she wants to be an IPS officer. A smile broke on his face!