Action Hero Anon # 5

I have several stories but Ill limit it to 2 perhaps :

Incident 1: I was walking down a street at around 11am and talking on the phone. I was trying to postpone a meeting I had set up. A man coming from the opposite direction slid his hand into my T-shirt which of course caught me by surprise completely.

My reaction: I hesitated just a moment then forgetting to hang up on my caller I turned around, ran and caught up with the miscreant. I caught him by his collar - he was surprised and turned around. Then I started to shout at him at the top of my voice and in the local language -Kannada. The man I think was quite shocked and didn't really understand. Then the same people who all noticed the man sliding his hand into my T-shirt gathered and tried to pacify me (!! instead of reprimanding this man, of course why am I surprised). I shouted back at all of them and said they watched and chose to remain quiet so why pretend like they care now. I was very very angry. By then the man freed himself and ran away! When my Dad heard about this he warned me and asked me to stop reacting to these incidents and just accept them else these men will throw acid on my face. I never stop embarassing these guys so they know that its not ok to do what they do and its not always going to be met with silence, bowing of the head and walking away!

Incident 2: I was getting out of the auto and had my handbag and my laptop bag in either hands. There was a bus stand full of people where I had to get off. As I got off the auto a man commented and said 'Pull your T-shirt down.' As an adult woman I hadn't experienced street sexual harassment in a very long time so this time I was quite shocked. (out of practice I suppose)

My reaction: I turned around and very calmly told him in Hindi 'I did not ask for your opinion and it would do you good to save your comments to yourself. You re lucky I have bags in both my hands which prevent me from physically attacking you and Im quelling my emotions coz Im compelled to scream and embarass you at this bus stand.'

Almost instantly the man started apologizing to me. This time round I did not respond 'It's okay' to an apology.

Location: Bangalore and Hyderabad

Time :11am, 6pm

Age: 22, 28

Current Age: 28

This Action Hero felt violated, anger - lots of anger, amused, sense of control when I responded/reacted, doer- im not the one to keep quiet/lower my head/slump my shoulders while I walk