Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Water drowns noise

I don't know you. But I've met you before. I recognised you the minute your ugly desi eyes clapped on to my body this morning when I stepped into the swimming pool. You kept staring at me as I showered and slipped into the tepid waters of the swimming pool. I felt a shiver going up my spine. No, the water was fine. But it was the thought of you still watching me unblinking half-a-pool away. As I continued doing my laps, I sensed your eyes boring into me - stripping away every last shred of confidence I had. Reducing me to the traumatised 12-year old who had been felt up on a PTC bus. The bewildered 10-year old who watched as a familiar stranger put his hand up her skirt. The terrified 17-year old who had her breasts pinched by an auto rickshaw driver. I was no longer the 30-something mother of two who somehow had deluded herself that her child-bearing hips and layers of fat would immunise her against lecherous stares and ugly gropes. How wrong I was!

Each time I came up for air, I caught sight of you. Your eyes still fixated on me. To my horror, I saw you move a lane closer to me. I swam a lane away. You moved into the bubble pool looking down on the larger pool. I had no where to go. I wanted to yell and shout. I didn't even manage to confront you. Instead I swam and swam. Raging and whimpering silently. Wishing you a hundred misfortunes on your way out. I waited until you were well gone before I emerged from the pool. I showered, changed and rushed home. Where I knew I would be safe.

8 comments:

ashok said...

Deepavali nalvazhthukal

Anonymous said...

:(

Shammi said...

That has the ring of personal experience. Ugh.

PVS said...

I'm with you....wishing him an additional hundred misfortunes!!!

Vinz said...

lovely piece...
portrayed the agony of a normal woman out in this world..!!

Premalatha said...

Hope you feel ok now.

Anonymous said...

Abhi. Next time just get out and shout at him. Asshole.

Anonymous said...

Oh this is very irritating and disgusting. When such a thing happens in India we react in a different fashion, but such bastards doing the same thing abroad makes me feel so ashamed (like going naked in public).
Such an incident happend to me in a grocery store in US . Its well-known for its huge amount of Desi visitors (though the shop is american) . While checking out, (note the point that i was not alone , my Hubby darling was right beside me paying ) a couple of young desis, kept staring at me. I really don't know how i should have reacted. Should i shout at them and embarrass India eventually , or should i just walk away.. I shrunk due to the powerful, rays from their eyes.. With a horrible mood all through the day because of them.

-Shree