“I still feel so scared when I leave home”

I was walking home from the market with my younger sister, a very crowded market, Chandni Chowk in Delhi. It was around 6 p.m. in the evening, which is not at all late to be out.

A guy coming from the front groped me and when I pushed him back, even before i could say something he slapped me hard and started hitting me. The whole market (including men and women) just watched in amusement..as if it was some kind of an entertainment show going on.

I tried to fight back but the guy was just too huge and strong for me. I was all bruised and bleeding and what hurt me more wasn’t physical but the fact that no one came for my help. In the meanwhile my sister had called my dad, my house was just 2 minutes from there.

Dad came and he started hitting the guy. He ran away..the cops came but nothing happened. Like i said..he ran away.

I couldn’t use the same road for like a month or so. I still feel so scared when i leave home because the incident happened right in front of my house.

And the worst part is no one came for my help…they were people who see me daily leaving for college. And no one helped.

I feel so vulnerable now. It’s like anyone can do anything to me and no one will ever come forward to help me.

I’ts a curse being born a woman in this world. Every day i get eve teased and trust me even if it’s just passing comments..it is a mental torture. When men call out from behind that they want to fuck you or some one comments on your ass or your boobs. As if women are a sex object.

One can’t even ignore it..my parents don’t support me, they say just ignore..but how? I can’t ignore.

– Nasreen

Location: Chandni Chowk, Delhi, India

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