In the last
little over 26 years, I have seen many aspects which are considered normalcy in
life. The facet may be right or wrong, but we have accepted them as part of
life, and “moved on”. Haven’t we all seen parents compelling their children
to live/relive their own dreams, politicians milking money at the expense of
the common man, males of the society having the final say! What is refreshing
, is when one witnesses wheels reversed.
Before we
dwell on this any further, it is imperative I give you an account of the day
when it all happened. The Bengali bug in me compelled me to appear for the UGC
NET examination. Taking a second attempt at it (the failed first attempt was a
gift from the Indian Postal Service whose benevolence ensured that the admit
card reached my house 10 days after the examination day), I made my way a mere
25 km away from my abode. An early Sunday morning paper is a curse for folks
whose Saturday nights end late. A sleep deprived long journey meant I was
already sick and muted as I stepped in the examination center. What followed is
a joke! I have no other word for a basic MCQ examination which can be cracked
by a novice on his lucky day, and the examination is expected to bring forth professors who are
going to shape the future of the country and the Gen Z. Disgusted and lamenting on
my brilliance , I boarded the train back to the “high rise”.
Metro greeted me with scores of co-travelers chattering and discussing the UGS
NET paper (I realized passing the UGC NET is far more coveted that I expected).
Feeling sick, I made my way to a corner and plugged in loud old school rock.
A metro ride
which was getting worse with every passing second, got miserable when two guys
stepped in at INA. They are the young Delhiites (I am no racist, neither do I
discriminate, but describing them anything else would be grave injustice to
them). A caption round neck T, narrow tapered led-hugging jeans, Mohawk, studs,
rimless spec, loud and lavish, both of them busy looking at their tabs and
bragging about them. And I thought how worse can it get- crowded, fetid and loud.
In Saket,
walked in a beautiful young lady- a lovely dress hanging loose on her frame,
a wrap, stilettos, big mystic eyes, ebony curly hair caressing her back, burberry
in one hand, a handset in another. The rush on every station led to the lady standing
right next to the guys- smile on their face revealed the happiness, the lech.
With push on every passing station, the lady soon stood right between the two
guys. The smile got bigger, the sneer got wider. One could feel the distress
the lady was in- the thugs, the push, the elbow. I could feel temper rising in
me, when suddenly the roles reversed. The lady took off her wrap and looked
straight in the eyes of one of them. The stare was that of disdain, disrespect;
admonishing the two. Soon it appeared she felt comfortable and I thought to
myself, “She is actually enjoying this”! She was happily speaking over the
phone, while the two with sheepish eyes watched her every movement. I saw her
as she intentionally dropped her handset and the two rushed to pick it up. It was a
master and her two slaves. I watched all this and started laughing myself.
An elated, satisfied, content numb crept in. After a long day, I was happy
at last.
I de-boarded
at Sikanderpur and made my way to the exit. As I stepped out, I saw the young
lady in a tight embrace with a tall lanky guy. Was it her fiancé, her husband,
her boyfriend, her brother, I will let you decide. To me she was the new Indian
women.
Humanist: Peace Out!!!
