Funny but serious

Its on my way to Binani Zinc I met that aunty who works as a clerk in Edappally. In my 30 mins journey we get enough time to talk on the many things. Out of these, most of the time, the topic will be frequency of buses in Panayikulam route. We speak this almost every day as there will be many people including ladies on the footboards of the bus. For everyone, the journey is a nightmare. Anyways we are getting used to it.

Yesterday, the bus filled more gents than women. We were sitting in the second chair from the door. Usually the place till the third seat will be occupied by women. This time, it was occupied by gents. No enough space and people standing were literally slanting. It was then my friend started a new spin in the chat

As I told earlier, she is working as a clerk in an attorney’s office and has to travel a lot. Whenever she enters a bus from city, the first thing she does is the display of the knife she carries in her bag. She takes it out, wipe it, check it, and keep it back in the bag. By this men near her will move away.

She has been doing this for a fairly long time… and this is how a woman is supposed to travel in the so called “God’s Own country”. Right from eve teasing to unwanted touch, a woman has to bear many things in the streets and public places of this God’s own land. But hardly have they reacted. Even if they, others discourage her. No one desires a change and no change, it repeats.