It really was my right for way!
I was riding back home from college. The distance was hardly 6 kms. It generally took me 15 minutes to reach. I was leaving for home early that day around 3 p.m. There were very few people on the road. I always have enjoyed riding. I am a good rider, or so I feel.
I must have been riding at the speed of 40-50 kph. I was on the road outside my college and half way before I could take a turn. Just then a man from the opposite side rode in speed and swayed to the gates of the club on my left. I was in a state of shock and fear as I did not expect him to come from the wrong side (does not happen much in Pune because of police patrolling) also I did not see him coming. It was all too quick. He was riding at a very high speed. The speed was so high that he cut my way just before I could cross the gate. I applied both the brakes and had a sudden stop. My bike had skid a little. I did not fall down. All this was happening in the middle of a road which had a divider.
I was in shock for a few seconds as I could have not been able to control the bike if he would have rammed into me or if my bike had skid. I stood still for a few seconds after the incident and turned around and glared at him with anger. I was very angry. I had a scarf on - he could not see my face. He only saw my angry eyes (I admit my eyes are very expressive and they say exactly what words can or sometimes even more). I stood there for a few seconds staring at him. I am not sure if I was expecting an apology - but I was there waiting. He was waiting too - right outside the gate staring back at me. I was so pissed that I knew I could knock him down if he stood in-front of me.
After a few seconds of staring at each other he asked me while trying to get-off his bike - "Abbe, kya dekh rahi hai?". Before I could reply he started throwing abuses at me - the Hindi ones. Yes - MC, BC, and all the rest. After a point I could not hear a word but only felt the strong presence of his anger. As soon as that happened - I realized I that my heartbeat was pacing abnormally. I was feeling very vulnerable, helpless, and intimidated. When I felt that he was going to come towards me with all that anger - I began to quiver a little. The only thing now on my mind was to rush and make an escape. I raced my bike and rushed home. I wondered what he was going to do to me? Slap me? or Push me off my bike? I was expecting him to express his regret for what he did but the exact opposite happened. Also I thought, I was rather sure, that I was bold and strong but even my reaction was exactly the opposite. I probably had never felt myself so weak before in a situation like this. I had dealt with people before on the road. Several times!
Such a petty incident, right? Why bother blogging about it? Only for one reason - because it made me realize that this could have got worse. It gets worse for many women. My experience was only verbal. This is the closest I came to it. I made me realize what women would be going through when they are abused by their own husbands, fathers, or by random strangers. What would have gone through those who are raped or are beaten up mercilessly? It is very difficult to foresee or believe or know that there are people who don't have a squat of humanity, kindness, or consideration for others. For, many of us have never felt or experienced these emotions before. It is one thing to be aware and wary of these evils and the other to have gone through them.
It did not matter whether it was my right for way or not. It did not matter if my anger was justified or not. The worst part is something would have gone wrong I would have been blamed for it. For provoking that man. I think what ticked him-off was the fact that a girl was challenging his behavior by expressing anger at him. I believe that if there would have been a guy in my place that man would have not bothered to say a word and instead rush in the gates of the club to avoid a fight. I always fail to see the difference with which people see men and women. I generally never see myself as any different but probably only better.
I was riding back home from college. The distance was hardly 6 kms. It generally took me 15 minutes to reach. I was leaving for home early that day around 3 p.m. There were very few people on the road. I always have enjoyed riding. I am a good rider, or so I feel.
I must have been riding at the speed of 40-50 kph. I was on the road outside my college and half way before I could take a turn. Just then a man from the opposite side rode in speed and swayed to the gates of the club on my left. I was in a state of shock and fear as I did not expect him to come from the wrong side (does not happen much in Pune because of police patrolling) also I did not see him coming. It was all too quick. He was riding at a very high speed. The speed was so high that he cut my way just before I could cross the gate. I applied both the brakes and had a sudden stop. My bike had skid a little. I did not fall down. All this was happening in the middle of a road which had a divider.
I was in shock for a few seconds as I could have not been able to control the bike if he would have rammed into me or if my bike had skid. I stood still for a few seconds after the incident and turned around and glared at him with anger. I was very angry. I had a scarf on - he could not see my face. He only saw my angry eyes (I admit my eyes are very expressive and they say exactly what words can or sometimes even more). I stood there for a few seconds staring at him. I am not sure if I was expecting an apology - but I was there waiting. He was waiting too - right outside the gate staring back at me. I was so pissed that I knew I could knock him down if he stood in-front of me.
After a few seconds of staring at each other he asked me while trying to get-off his bike - "Abbe, kya dekh rahi hai?". Before I could reply he started throwing abuses at me - the Hindi ones. Yes - MC, BC, and all the rest. After a point I could not hear a word but only felt the strong presence of his anger. As soon as that happened - I realized I that my heartbeat was pacing abnormally. I was feeling very vulnerable, helpless, and intimidated. When I felt that he was going to come towards me with all that anger - I began to quiver a little. The only thing now on my mind was to rush and make an escape. I raced my bike and rushed home. I wondered what he was going to do to me? Slap me? or Push me off my bike? I was expecting him to express his regret for what he did but the exact opposite happened. Also I thought, I was rather sure, that I was bold and strong but even my reaction was exactly the opposite. I probably had never felt myself so weak before in a situation like this. I had dealt with people before on the road. Several times!
Such a petty incident, right? Why bother blogging about it? Only for one reason - because it made me realize that this could have got worse. It gets worse for many women. My experience was only verbal. This is the closest I came to it. I made me realize what women would be going through when they are abused by their own husbands, fathers, or by random strangers. What would have gone through those who are raped or are beaten up mercilessly? It is very difficult to foresee or believe or know that there are people who don't have a squat of humanity, kindness, or consideration for others. For, many of us have never felt or experienced these emotions before. It is one thing to be aware and wary of these evils and the other to have gone through them.
It did not matter whether it was my right for way or not. It did not matter if my anger was justified or not. The worst part is something would have gone wrong I would have been blamed for it. For provoking that man. I think what ticked him-off was the fact that a girl was challenging his behavior by expressing anger at him. I believe that if there would have been a guy in my place that man would have not bothered to say a word and instead rush in the gates of the club to avoid a fight. I always fail to see the difference with which people see men and women. I generally never see myself as any different but probably only better.
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