Between the hush of Mumbai city, a little me blogs again, to spew all that has happened in this city, when I was around… Not that I blog when there is something astounding happening with me, but things that hit me and hurt me most..Even though being a fan of this city….Well I’m gonna narrate to you something which will make the women of this city scared… YES it will!! Mumbai the most trustable city for the fairer sex to roam freely, but sad to say, this city doesn’t sound so trustable anymore.
As the story goes, a group (Group A) of party animals(including me) land up at Hawaiian shack in bandra. There they meet other friends group (Group B) and party till the place pulls down its doors and the staff (we know) says goodbye, then our groups move to another 'good muzic' place, Merlins, at Orchid’s, Santacruz…. rock the show and then decide to finally settle down at a friends place.. Group A+B reach the friends place back in Bandra. All listen to some muzic, have a good snack, wash it down with a glass of beer and proceed to their respective homes. Ganged up in two cars, one had my friend/colleague in the drivers seat and the other was driven by a sweet girl (from group B). As I was entering my friends car, my buddy asked me to step into the other car (which had a couple), as the girl who was driving, was gonna be alone after dropping the couple home. I agreed and stepped in…Being the person I am, I struck a conversation with all in the car, bid farewell to the couple and all that was left was me and the girl (she was driving, I can’t drive to save my life..) So, we took a U turn and proceeded from Carter Road, having a polite conversation, I was almost dozing (O, I forgot to mention, it was 3:30am) then suddenly, lady fair tells me there is someone with “bright headlights” behind us, I turned to look and found a silver mahindra scorpio behind us.. who suddenly started to flicker his headlights…We both came to a consensus that the Scorpio wanted to pass and allowed it to go ahead… Someone in that vehicle, lowered the window and signaled us (with freaking stubby hands) to stop… Initially, we thought they were cops patrolling and slowed down, but later realized there was no Police light or “Police” plastered on the vehicle.. We both assumed “trouble” and decided to make a dash.. The scorpio followed us, each time trying to overtake and stop us in our tracks…..
The girl began to panic and I was wondering…. “What the hell is happening?..” She asked me to call our common friend and I began telling him the mess we were in, he panicked too (the situation was scary with us & they were already waiting at the pre-decided place, The Marriott) he asked 'how was she doing' and mentioned her name (that’s when I registered her name..I know its funny, but I’m good with faces compared to names)… He hurled the steering wheel and turned his car around & drove towards the road, we were still getting followed onnn, stopping on the way to ask for the Cops help, but though I was speaking to him, least did he know, what was happening with us… The goons followed us continuously and managed to overtake us (the third time), slowing down before our vehicle, thus making us slow down too… The girl panicked (it was given for anyone to do so), I asked her to stop the car, she did… The Scorpio stopped approx 20mts ahead of us, 3 middle aged guys got off and walked towards our vehicle…
The girl(at the steering) panicked further, I asked her, if there was a weapon in the car, she screamed back “I’m a girl, how can u expect it of me”... I looked straight ahead, measured one of the guys and was thinking “I cannot let anything happen to her..I can take on one of these hurly burly guys, but what about the rest…What would be happening of her??”…It was a showdown, my ears were getting hot, fists clenching, body ready to respond to human reflexes, I could slash wrists and necks to save a fellow human, but how ?…I racked my brains for a solution, I had to do things… Its an instinct, it’s a responsibility (it’s a hard time you know..knowing there is a girl to save herself from getting raped and me to play fighter plane )...When they were about 10mts away, I screamed “Go, just speed off again and don’t refrain from running down anyone of them” she panicked, I asked her to stay focused on the road… She jammed the accelerator and sped away. We dashed to the nearest police station (at the intersection of juhu galli, SV road…. asking for help… I turned behind to check, and realized they scorpio guys had given up… I dunno what happened… We reached safety land before they did… We narrated the whole story to the cops and they were receptive, informed the control room too (I wonder if it makes a difference).. Our pals had already reached by then, but minus the COPS they had with them!! It seems “the area restricted cops”, chickened out, saying “this is not my jurisdiction”… What the hell?? Are these cops to save our city from crime? or what are they??
We all however, we felt a bit more secure and confident (not cos the cops were there, but cos we were more in number) and then proceeded in her car to escort/drop her home and return back to our respective homes…Knowing ofcourse, that this girl, though scared, was composed, smart & brave.. in the true meaning of the word(s).
My questions that night(rather morning) were… “What would have happened if she was alone in the car?” Is this the Mumbai I know??
“What are jurisdiction rules?? If, a human is being murdered in a different jurisdiction and there is another Cop close by, would he save your life or walk away saying, it not my jurisdiction?”
“Should weapons be made legal for women in India ??”
Last but not the least, “Is this city safe ??”
I would suggest… The govt. should invest in more security on small junctions (instead of gulping taxes, without burping), be more proactive and last but not the least, not be cowardly but take on different responsibilities with guts & grace.
