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Strange Behaviour
Dear Diary,
I am still astonished. I’m not saying I haven’t faced a problem like this before but I am feeling strongly about this after the exams — maybe because now I have time to think.
Will you tell me why on earth do males always tease females? I was really shocked to see myself being vexed by the males (teenagers to old men). Oh! Damn, I am somewhat depressed. Why they do so? Why they do not think and realise that we, the women, are not aliens but comprise half of the population of the world. But they do not even bother to think like that. What they can do is harass, tease, taunt and pass sarcastic remarks on us. Why they do not think of their own sisters and daughters while bullying?
They just keep on watching (sorry, starring with a capital `S’) females and now this has become the norm.
I had to take my exams of SSC II and my examination centre was located in some remote area. I decided to go there along with my elder brother. On the day of my last paper, my brother dropped me to the centre but due to some important work he could not come to pick me. So I decided to come back home on my own. Miseries started. As I walk through the street to reach the bus stop, I faced many dirty faces of males with bulging eyes and they kept on starring at me till I reached the end of that street. In the next street the scene was the same and one of them — an ugly, stupid man — started to chase me. With pounding heart I started running towards the bus stop. The man ended the chase with a sarcastic remark.
The next episode was to stand and wait for the bus. It was more likely to hang out in the middle of the market; when I reached the bus stop, all the males started starring me as if I was an alien. It took almost ten minutes to catch sight of my route bus and every second felt like an hour.
It must be made clear here that I belong to a noble family and I do observe purdah as I wear scarf with the uniform. So I didn’t face all this mess because of my dressing or appearance.
It was the last paper, and students of different schools were going back home. While I was waiting for the bus, a gang of guys passing-by were quarrelling and throwing ink on each other. One guy came nearer to me and was about to touch me. In a bid to save myself my foot hit the stone on the pavement and I was badly hurt. The flock of boys went away singing vulgar songs. As my bus came I quickly ran towards it. When I dismounted from the bus and was walking on the pavement, suddenly a super hero type gentlemen on a motorbike stopped just in front of me and offered me a free ride as he boldly asked, “May I drop you home?” I wanted to shoot him but I did not reply and crossed the road and reached home. I was not only tired but was boiling with anger.
Just tell me where are our ethics? Where have our customs gone? Where is our society going? Nobody is safe. Newspapers daily report numerous incidents of disgrace of women by men. But the irony is that no one ponders and pays heed to this serious problem. After that day, I have firmly decided not to go outside alone, but what about those who have no other choice? Will they always be harassed by the mighty sex?
Samreen Riaz Ahmed
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