A reunion after 17 years

Ashutosh and I have been friends since grade 9 when he moved to my school. Throughout our school tenue, we would only sit with each other, which at times ran us into trouble but we didn’t care about it. After our 12^th grade, he moved to Noida for his studies and I stayed back in Varanasi to pursue my graduation before moving to Bangalore for my masters. During this time we would meet each other briefly during vacations.

Once Ashu completed his master's, he came to Bangalore to attend interviews, together we explored Bangalore for a week, before he moved to Varanasi to join his family business, after that we couldn’t meet each other as we were busy in our lives. The irony is we couldn’t even attend each other’s wedding as I had just switched job and I couldn’t take leave. We tried multiple times to catch up but our work schedule didn’t allow us and 17 years passed by but we were in touch through video and voice calls.

It so happened that I had to travel to Delhi on a business trip and I so wished if he was there so that we could meet. I just called him casually and told him about my travel plan and he enquired about the dates, and the moment I disclosed the dates, his happiness knew no bounds and I was wondering WHY? Then he told me that he too would be in Delhi at that time with his family as they attending a wedding. His excitement was evident in his voice. Then I told him that my hotel was in Greater Noida and he would have to come down to meet me as I had no idea of the places.

I also told him that I was not sure how much time I would be able to give him or if we could meet either as I was unaware of my work schedule and his response was clear if we don’t meet “ don’t ever call me” and I was like dude I will try my level best but work is also important. Finally, we decided to try our level best.

I reached Delhi on an early morning flight from Bangalore, took a cab to Greater Noida, checked in to the hotel, and left for my work. All this while I and Ashu were in constant touch with each other. My work got over a little earlier than I anticipated and Ashu asked me to come to Delhi as he was in some market. Immediately I booked the cab and left for Delhi.

After 90 minutes I reached the place where we were supposed to meet, and we couldn’t locate each other, then I asked him to share his location, and based on that finally, we were able to meet after 17 long years.

I still couldn’t believe I was seeing he was in front of me and the moment we met we just hugged each other, ignoring the world around us. Soon enough his wife also joined us, I was meeting her for the first time.  The moment she left for shopping we found a place for us to sit and chit-chat.

We were so engrossed in talking that we didn’t realize that 3 hours had already passed by and it was getting late, as I had to travel back too. We went for dinner and tried Haldiram’s as I had heard a lot about them.

After dinner, it was time to say goodbye I booked the cab and the moment the cab came, Ashu told the driver to drive safely. He even took a photo of the cab and asked me to share the ride details, which I did.

On the way to my hotel I was thinking about the travel that I undertook that day, Bangalore – Delhi – Greater Noida – Delhi and to Greater Noida again. A business trip and a wedding forced both of us to leave our home turf and come to a neutral ground where we could meet. Sometimes unplanned trips are more exciting than planned ones. 

How safe are India’s metropolitan cities for women?

India is known to the world for its diverse culture, nationals from across the globe come here to witness it. Women in India are worshipped as “Lakshmi (goddess of wealth), Saraswati (goddess of knowledge), Durga, Kali to name a few. It’s shocking to see incidence of violence against women at large scale in India. It’s a shame to India’s diverse culture as well.

Registered rape cases in India are at all-time high. In a week we can easily read 1or 2 rape cases in newspapers. What happened to the victims or the convicts in the case in never told or covered? Reason could new case is ready to focus attention on. Where are we heading toward? When we live in a civilized society, should we not behave in that manner?

I feel rape is an inhuman act which can’t be tolerated in human society. It’s a shame to our society at large. Today’s women has proved to the society that, they are nowhere behind men in any ways. They have conquered all the places which were once held by men only. Despite all these developed they are not treated well. 

Women have to face uncomfortable situation wherever they go, be it workplace, public transport, shopping malls. No place is safe for women, even their home in some situations. What should they do now? Sit at home or be victim to harassments. Rape leaves an unhealing wound to the soul of the victim. It is very difficult for them to come out of it.

Recents case of delhi is the most cruelest to the victim, where she was thrown out of the bus, as if she was a commodity and not human being. Delhi is the capital of India, situation is no different in Banaglore, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkatta and Pune. Women who leave their home early in the morning to earn bread for their family have not surety , that they will reach home safely. These cities are best known of their development and the standard of living it offers to the residents.

Police arrests the convicts and court grants them bail. Despite doing such grievous convicts roam free in the society, adding terror to female population. In think government should come out with some stringent punishment for the convicts in rape cases. The fear of the punishment should deter people from even thinking about it. Until and unless it is brought in practice, rape cases are not going to end. We can read about it every morning.

Only solution to this problem is to implement the same law, which is followed in countries like Saudi Arabia.