NO!

She is on her way to work. It's summer in Bombay and sweat is pouring down her back. She waits for the 8:06 train to Churchgate, knowing fully well how packed it will be. She shifts her heavy cotton dupatta so that it covers her head properly, wishing she could throw it away and stand naked under a fan. She looks up at the college student next to her, wearing shorts and a sleeveless top that reminds her of her son's banyaan.
Part of her envies this carefree creature - cool and fresh in this summer heat, with her perfect slim body and long legs, with no drunken husband to dread and probably a handsome hero of a boyfriend to protect her.

She is on her way to college. Another day wasted in the classroom when all she wants to do is practice for the swimming meet. Another day to be spent beating off advances she didn't ask for, from boys she doesn't know, in ways she is too shy to carry through. Another day trying to focus on the lecture instead of having to find a seat away from the aisle so the professor doesn't meaningfully rub against her every time he passes by.
It wasn't her fault that she was beautiful and healthy and the envy of every woman and the object of desire of every man who saw her. She envies women like the dowdy specimen next to her in the cotton salwar kameez. She had no need or space in her life to think about leery professors or psycho stalkers. Oh, what a blessing to be plain looking, poor and unambitious.

They both glance up for the train and see the lecherous guy approaching, giving the pretty student the head-to-toe apparaisal, with a long stop a third of the way down. His eyes move to the other woman, and repeat the routine with a twisted smile.

One hugs a bag close to her body, one readjusts the dupatta and looks down, an umbrella is held ready to keep unwanted hands at bay, a quick glance to check for the arrival of the train, hearts beat faster for a whole minute, as the man ambles past at a maddeningly complacent pace...

It's about time this stopped. We have the right to walk with our head held high, mind at peace, bare arms to the side, unafraid, confident and proud of being beautiful women. It is time we said NO to eve-teasing and NO to every form of dishonor and sexual harassment, small or big.

No matter how she looks, what she wears, what her background, where she's going, what language she speaks, what time of day or night it is...no woman in most places in India steps out on the streets confident in the knowledge that she will be unharmed or unaffected by eve-teasers.

Here's to the day when we can step into the street knowing that we will be respected, perhaps admired but never harmed, and always protected and safe in the city we love.
Here's to the Blank Noise Project.
Thanks to Aparna for introducing me to this.