A few days back, I was leaving my office late in the evening at around 9.45 PM. I was crossing the shoppers paradise Brigade Road in Bangalore when I spotted a young European lady standing on the pavement. But she was clearly very uncomfortable.

I looked around and found three youngsters behind her. They were slightly drunk (the alcoholic fumes reached me) and were shamelessly ogling at her and making comments – they had dared to even walk up to touching distance from her.

I was already getting late to catch the last metro link to my place. I walked past. But something kept tugging me back. My conscience was screaming at me “You coward!!!! What if it was your sister, wife or niece?”

I sighed and moved back. Now I am no hulk and was definitely nowhere near being as fit as I was in my younger days. But the very sight of a man walking up to them made the youngsters step back. But they did not stop their lewd comments which were embarrassing even me.

I walked up to the lady and asked, “Excuse me, why do you need to stand here?” She replied, “My companion has gone into the ATM and I am waiting for him.” By this time, the youngsters were getting closer and I was in the danger of being manhandled. So I asked her, “Do you have your companion’s mobile number?” She replied in the affirmative. I then asked her, “Would you mind walking away with me from here? You can walk upto the junction (about 50 feet away) where a traffic policemen was certain to be there and these goons will not dare trouble you.”

For obvious reasons, she hesitated. It was at that moment, that a young man stopped his bike and got down. “What is happening sir?” he asked me. I explained. He said, “If you are willing to assist me, I would like to scare the daylights out of these chaps. They do not understand any other language.”

At another time (when I was in my 20s and even 30s) I would have flexed my karate-trained muscles and said “Lead on my man!!!”. Now I was married with a wife and two kids. Who knows what these goons would come up with? But something drove me to nod and we both proceeded towards the three goons. Seeing us advance they – like most true cowards – turned and ran. The youngster ran after them, hurling the choicest abuse in Kannada until they were nowhere in sight.

He then came back and apologised to the lady, “Sorry madam! But that is the only language they understand!” I was wondering if he was referring to the language of Kannada or the physical exhibition! He then said good night and went along.

It was at that very moment that another young foreigner came up and the lady introduced to me her companion. I said good night to them and went along.

I missed my train that night. But was happy because my conscience patted me on my back and told me that I had done the right thing. And during the long walk to the torture chamber (auto), I prayed repeatedly to God that someday, our women feel safe and our men not act as louts.

And yes, if Aamir Khan would read this blog of mine, you may see me on his TV show sometime!

 

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