Years back, appearing for umpteen entrances was quite a mission for me. And there's one, I may never forget. Not because it was tough or whether I cracked it, but for a totally different reason.
The center was much farther from my place. Though I've been to the place once, the route was difficult to remember. So, I asked my father about the route and everything, and he thoroughly explained the same. Like a protective father, he asked me if I wanted him to come along, to which I assured him that I'd manage. He entrusted me, knowing how I find my own ways at strange places as it's never been a big thing for a girl who has travelled different states of India all by herself, so he did not questioned me any further.
The center was much farther from my place. Though I've been to the place once, the route was difficult to remember. So, I asked my father about the route and everything, and he thoroughly explained the same. Like a protective father, he asked me if I wanted him to come along, to which I assured him that I'd manage. He entrusted me, knowing how I find my own ways at strange places as it's never been a big thing for a girl who has travelled different states of India all by herself, so he did not questioned me any further.
It was a bright sunny day of March. To reach the destination, I took varied means of transportation that comprised, changing a bus, two autos, and a strode to be taken in the end. After boarding off the second auto, I had to walk down a long road. Unfortunately, the auto dropped me at a wrong place saying, "bas yaha se seedha nikal jaao madam, aaram se pahunch jaaoge". But, after taking few steps I was sure that I was lost, I dint find any other transportation available. Anyway I kept marching ahead on the road. Suddenly, close to a widespread construction site beside the lone road, I saw a bunch of men standing. As I neared, I found them grinning and staring at me. They must be 7 or 8, I remember. I looked around to the farthest point my eyes could reach and found nothing, no other human, or any vehicle.
"What if, they do something to me? I can't do anything in spite of being bold. Perhaps a bleak shout in that isolated area." The thought seized me. Out of my surprise, my heart throbbed for a while. With that growing sense of fear, I walked down the road. Anyhow I reached to the institute, gave my entrance test and came back home.
Though nothing bad happened, but at times, just a thought of it scares me for moments. I never found myself so vulnerable or helpless in my whole life. Even all the money I had couldn't have saved me, if...something wrong had happened.PS: For the first time in my life, I literally felt, to be a woman is a curse.
(Image courtesy: Aaliyah - Enough Said Cover image)
