I was traveling from Kolkata to Ranchi. Though I prefer travelling in train for long journey, this time I was traveling in bus as I had to cancel my train ticket in the last moment as it was not confirmed. Redbus app guided me to get a ticket from Babughat, Kolkata to Khadgarha, Ranchi. I was traveling lonely as a cloud. My ticket was in a double sharing sleeper coach. I arrived 30 minutes before the scheduled time. 25 minutes later a girl with two men arrived near my seat. Those two gentlemen helped her to get settled in her seat. Then gave her food, water and other necessary items. They were giving her instructions like not to sleep at all and be alert. It was a curious seen to observe. After completing their duties, both the gentleman settled in their seats. As I am blessed with curiosity, I was unable to stop myself to interact with her. Gradually I came to know that she is Misha, studying in 3rd year with Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Jalpaiguri Engineering College. There is a marriage in her house, so her younger brother and uncle came to all the way from Ranchi to Jalpaiguri to take her home.
She informed that her parents and other family members love her so much and that's why they came to receive her. In my mind I was thinking who were doing all the works in back in house where a marriage is going to happen. In between she received 8 phone calls answering the same words that's she got her bus, she is safe and a lady is sitting next to her. As the time passed those two gentlemen dutifully came to her to ask about her status (whether she is ok or not) and simultaneously she was continuously receiving phone calls to inform about her status.
It was something new for me. I was wondering what's wrong with Misha and her family, why they are behaving like this, why they are not giving her the chance to deal her life in her way. After one year she will complete her education and probably enter into the professional world.
Suddenly, I remember that we started from Kolkata to Ranchi by bus. It is not safe for a female to travel at night. It is even worse to travel by bus. She need security and that's why people who love and care for her are trying their best to protect her. Then what about boys? What about those two gentlemen who came to receive her - don't they need any security? But they don't have "vagina" so they are not prone to molestation, rape or any kind of incidents that can ruin a human beings whole life. Suddenly my inner being cried out loud. Why???? Why SHE is punished all the time without doing anything wrong??? Why he is always there either to play the role of a "rakshak" or a "rakshakarta"??? This journey was something different which reminds me the status quo of women in 21st century. The memory ends with a sorrowful note in my heart.
She informed that her parents and other family members love her so much and that's why they came to receive her. In my mind I was thinking who were doing all the works in back in house where a marriage is going to happen. In between she received 8 phone calls answering the same words that's she got her bus, she is safe and a lady is sitting next to her. As the time passed those two gentlemen dutifully came to her to ask about her status (whether she is ok or not) and simultaneously she was continuously receiving phone calls to inform about her status.
It was something new for me. I was wondering what's wrong with Misha and her family, why they are behaving like this, why they are not giving her the chance to deal her life in her way. After one year she will complete her education and probably enter into the professional world.
Suddenly, I remember that we started from Kolkata to Ranchi by bus. It is not safe for a female to travel at night. It is even worse to travel by bus. She need security and that's why people who love and care for her are trying their best to protect her. Then what about boys? What about those two gentlemen who came to receive her - don't they need any security? But they don't have "vagina" so they are not prone to molestation, rape or any kind of incidents that can ruin a human beings whole life. Suddenly my inner being cried out loud. Why???? Why SHE is punished all the time without doing anything wrong??? Why he is always there either to play the role of a "rakshak" or a "rakshakarta"??? This journey was something different which reminds me the status quo of women in 21st century. The memory ends with a sorrowful note in my heart.
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