Buses for women only
Women constitute half of the total population. But they are less privileged in almost all aspects of life. In the local buses only four seats (where three people with average health will feel suffocated) are earmarked for women. Most of the times these seats are occupied by males and when women are standing, these guys sit there without any remorse . Harassment by male passengers is a common phenomenon. Most of the times women prefer to keep silent, if anyone speaks out, she has to hear "if you cannot stand this, you better have a private car". Some people go too far and start analysing the 'character' of the woman even before she has got down from the bus. Fortunately, it's not an all gloomy picture. There are of course people who 'sacrifice' their seats for women passengers. (Most of the time for the young and attractive ones and not the old and weak ones, but hopefully there are exceptions too) . Due to the present law and order situation and their house hold duty, women try to go back home as early as possible in the evening. But most of the times they cannot win the wrestling to get into a bus which is already packed with 'sardines'. A few days ago I was waiting for a bus while getting roasted in the scorching sun. I saw one of the rare 'women only' buses . As it passed by, one of the girls in the bus smiled at me. It was a smile of sympathy. Sympathy-- something we the male passengers seldom show to our female counterparts.
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