THE BLAME GAME

BY ADITHIMANASA

“The girls are to be blamed! Just look at the way they dress…” 

Picture courtesy- www.policymic.com

I couldn’t help overhearing two ladies talk among themselves. The women were sitting behind me. One was pointing at the front page of a newspaper. It was evident that the two were discussing about a girl being gang-raped. The saree clad women were very sure that the victim’s dress ‘provoked’ the rapists. 

A few men sitting in the bus looked at the women and nodded their heads in agreement. On getting some attention, the women’s conversation grew louder and louder. The women also pointed at a few college going girls in the crowded bus. The girls were oblivious of what they were discussing as they were only hoping to get a seat. Many of them had their ear plugs on listening to the radio.  

The women were worried at the way the young girls were dressed up. They were upset that the girls chose to wear sleeveless tops and low waist jeans. “How can you blame the men? If these girls walk around in skimpy outfits, they are bound to get unwanted attention. The men will get tempted. Why wear such clothes and invite trouble? ” they were heard saying. 

One more woman joined them. She opined that girls partying late into the night and roaming in the streets after dark are also reasons for the increase in the number of rapes in the city. I wanted to know what they had to say about women working late at nights. Is working for a BPO a crime then? What about female bartenders? What about students working part-time to arrange for the exorbitant college fees?

Picture courtesy- www.huffingtonpost.com

No girl is stupid. Necessity makes people take up odd jobs even if they are uncomfortable with it. Sometimes people are compelled to work 20-hours a day! All are not blessed. All are not lucky. I wondered what these women had to say about such hardworking females.

The bus slowed down and a pretty lass got in. She was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. The topic immediately changed. The women yet again began to talk about her clothes. I turned and looked at the women. While one had a frown the other had a worried look and yet another was shocked out of her wits. I couldn’t help but chuckle. 

Picture courtesy- www.dailymail.co.uk

All of a sudden, we heard a cry. A girl punched a man on his face. The frightened man got off the bus before anyone could catch hold of him. He ran across the street and vanished. People in the bus were curious to know what had happened to the girl. Why did she punch that man? The aged conductor tried consoling her. She had hit the man for misbehaving with her.

The women were no longer talking. They kept looking at the brave girl who was still fuming with anger. The salwar kameez clad gutsy girl got down at the next stop and walked away. An eerie silence in the bus loomed.