The evening of the 25th of June 2011 was very sultry as any other day, which indeed was not a big surprise for people in Chennai during the summer especially. It makes you to hate yourself for no reason and leaves you with no choice excepting to keep yourself hydrated at all times. Busy at work, I found myself suddenly looking at the clock and shouting to myself “Oh! Shucks…. I forgot to buy the gift”
Yes, I was supposed to attend a birthday party that evening and had this unwilling task on hand to buy a gift for the birthday girl. Well, my reputation of selecting boutiques proved unfavorable for me that evening. I just informed my team at work that I will be back soon and I set on foot towards the famous showrooms in one of the busiest shopping spot in Chennai called “Pondy Bazzar”.
I usually like to walk and in fact I also took this as an excuse to make myself proud and happy that I am doing some physical workout. Though not a pleasant experience to walk in Chennai during summer, I was very determined to reach my destination by foot and get back to work on time. Passing by the street side food vendors induced my appetite and made me to crave for the sumptuous Channa and Pulav which my wife had prepared specially for the birthday party. Treading my foot carefully on the filthy roads I was shocked when a eunuch placed her hand flat on my head with a rubbing motion and showering her blessings for my longevity. Known for my aversion towards someone touching my head/hairs, my instinct pushed her hand and warned her from any such gestures again.
This act of mine bewildered her and in a split second I was surrounded by three eunuchs with one of them demanding or rather commanding to give them some money. Well, I immediately realized that something was brewing up and involuntarily I was being dragged to the spot light. Embarrassed by the threat from them and more so due to the onlookers, I tried to brush them aside and make move. But this time they showed their force on me and held me by my shirt collar and swore at me in a language which could not be published in this blog by any standards. Perplexed by this situation, I refused to pay them any money. Ignorant of their next course of action, I was just gazing at them in dismay when one of them belligerently shouted that she will lift her skirt and embarrass me if I do not pay her some money.
Startled by her ultimatum, I decided not to be part of any more embarrassment and struggled my way out from their strangle hold. While I was contemplating on my expulsion from them, they were very sincere in swearing at me with all the possible filthy words and one of them was sincerely executing her last ultimatum which she had given me. In this depth of despair, I somehow released myself from the three and ran for asylum. Till date I feel thankful for that showroom which was nearby where I ran for safety. As soon as I came inside the showroom, I felt as if I have escaped from some hardcore hooligans. Not too late, I realized that all the staff of that showroom had been a witness to the unique harassment which I was going through in their vicinity….