I am leaving for Pune from Mumbai. Without a 2d thought, I acquire on inwards the full general compartment since I don’t receive got a reserved seat. The prepare is non rattling crowded. As a woman, in addition to because I’m habitual to it, I banknote that at that spot are rattling few women travellers inwards my compartment but I pay picayune attending to this fact; the conditions is beautiful. I aspect exterior at the lush lawns in addition to clear skies, I read my book, I accept a nap – all inwards all, it’s a peaceful journey. Or in addition to then I think.
The prepare halts at Lonavala. Most of the women along amongst the ‘decent’ crowd alight at this intermediate station. Pune is all the same an hr away. I am alarmed every bit 3 uncouth youngsters, non to a greater extent than than 25 years of age, sit down beside in addition to inwards front end of me. I movement every bit far away every bit possible in addition to sit down past times the window.
For about time, they hear their ain trouble organisation in addition to I hear mine. I am sick at repose but I create non demonstrate it. I sit down stiff, amongst the hoodie over my caput although it is extremely hot. There are people inwards the compartment, exactly non inwards my department of half dozen seats but it is plenty to brand me anxious. I don’t fifty-fifty blink my eyes every bit I function along looking intently exterior the window. Then the inevitable happens.
They sing smutty songs in addition to narrate obscene dialogues to irk me. They tease me, they stare, they brand me uncomfortable. When they effort to accept a flick of me, I angle my caput to the call for where it hurts. I hug my pocketbook tightly taking solace inwards the fact that at that spot are all the same about people inwards the compartment in addition to if something (un)expected were to happen, they’d assistance me out, non that I receive got a lot of faith inwards the men, but something is ameliorate than nothing. I experience rattling vulnerable. The rigid adult woman inwards me is breaking downwards slice past times piece. Every infinitesimal feels similar an hour. Every breath is heavier than the previous. My pump beats in addition to then fast I am certain it volition popular out. I sweat profusely wetting my palms in addition to the telephone inwards my hand. Time refuses to pass. Then the prepare halts again. More people acquire off in addition to my pump stops beating altogether. The walls seem to unopen inwards on me although, physically, at that spot is to a greater extent than room now. I outset picturing the well-nigh horrible things that could happen. I effort to call upwards the few Karate blows I’d learnt every bit a kid. Nothing seems to endure inwards my favour. I contemplate calling my woman rear but abstain from it – why acquire her tensed?
The prepare pauses again, similar a shot inwards the middle of nowhere earlier resuming the journey. I am scared to my bones every bit I see, from the corner of my eyes, that the boys are combing their hair. An orangish seller passes past times in addition to nosotros portion a quick glance that, for me, seems to final for 10 seconds. I effort to bring my fright to her. My eyes yell ‘Don’t go, don’t acquire out me’ but she understands null in addition to leaves. From the corner of my optic I banknote that the boys acquire up. Any 2d now.
“Beti, ab kaun sa station aane wala hai?” I hear mortal speak. I jerk my caput towards the phonation in addition to meet an one-time adult woman leading her luggage to sit down beside me. My happiness knows no bounds; I desire to jump, I desire to dance, I desire to hug her but I alone heave a sigh of relief. Eventually, realization hits me in addition to I think, ‘God bless the orange-seller.’
“Aaji, Pune station,” I reply in addition to assistance her out of the train.
