The Girl on the Train
Heading home from meeting my BFF, I was extremely happy as I always am after I meet him. Hopping on the train, I was hoping my Christmas and New Years Eve will be a blast as my friend was mentioning he'll probably be back from his work and that we can plan something.
As I was traveling back home, late night I just remembered what happened to me last year on New Year's Eve.
As I was traveling back home, late night I just remembered what happened to me last year on New Year's Eve.
As usual, I thought this year my new year's eve will suck. I didn't have any plans whatsoever. Even my then boyfriend had plans with his friends. He did request me to tag along but I had no interest in barging in on his boy gang. Meanwhile, I kept on asking other people about their plans, sounding like a desperate loser :P but I couldn't help but feel deranged as all others had awesome plans and I was stuck at home only to come out of my house at 12 midnight to wish my neighbors "Happy New Year" and go back home to watch a late night movie, on my PC! Mind you, not TV. =_= PC
The day before News Year's Eve I asked my cousin as to what she was up to for New Years, expecting that she probably has a fun plan with her college friends & besides, I and my cousin were bonding quite a lot those days. And as my hopes were all gone for a good time, I thought to myself that I'll just be happy knowing my friends are having fun (and I hoped they fall on their coccyges while dancing on the latest party songs.)
She replied saying "NO PLANS" and in my mind I was... YESSS!!!!
I told her that I don't have plans either and maybe we should do something about it. I invited her to my place and then suggested that we could hangout at some places around the city. We even asked another cousin of ours who lived quite far from us. She tagged along too. Finally a Plan!!!
I told my boyfriend that I finally have plans with my cousins. My cousins arrived in the evening! One of my cousins hadn't seen Powai lake and so we decided to hangout at Starbucks for a while and walked towards Powai lake.
At Powai lake, this guy came up to us and asked if he could spend time with us. My cousin was befuddled & looked at me as to what to answer him, & I said “NO!”
My cousin was like maybe he genuinely was lonely and wanted to spend time. I told her that there were two guys right beside us why didn't he ask them and only us three girls. CREEP!
At Powai lake, this guy came up to us and asked if he could spend time with us. My cousin was befuddled & looked at me as to what to answer him, & I said “NO!”
My cousin was like maybe he genuinely was lonely and wanted to spend time. I told her that there were two guys right beside us why didn't he ask them and only us three girls. CREEP!
Anyways we had dinner and headed home right at 12 and wished each other Happy New Year! My mom, thinking we will be at home, started giving us our night clothes.
I informed my mom that we are planning to go to Marine Drive, my mom was shocked & kinda didn't agree as my youngest cousin was told not to go out after 12 (strict parents you see)
Eventually she agreed.
She's cool that way and I was proud cuz on our way, my cousins were jealous of the fact that my mom was pretty cool (though she didn't look so) She even lied to my cousins father aka My Uncle that all were on the terrace enjoying (although she didn't like the fact that she had to lie to my uncle because of us and was clearly upset! she was just worried for our safety)
Eventually she agreed.
She's cool that way and I was proud cuz on our way, my cousins were jealous of the fact that my mom was pretty cool (though she didn't look so) She even lied to my cousins father aka My Uncle that all were on the terrace enjoying (although she didn't like the fact that she had to lie to my uncle because of us and was clearly upset! she was just worried for our safety)
Anyways thankfully the Rail Corporation had kept trains till late for New Years! So we reached Dadar and we noticed not a lot of people were traveling through trains. As we were crossing the bridge connecting the central line to western line, a girl walking alongside, noticed we were heading towards the Churchgate train, and she asked us if she could tag along for the ride as she was all alone and plus the FOB was a bit dark. So we happily agreed and didn't mind at all. We noticed that we were the only girls in the ladies compartment. Then we started talking....
We introduced each other & we asked her what were her plans and mentioned where we will be alighting. She was a really sweet and innocent girl. We then told where we were from and asked her. She said she lives in Nalasopara all alone and that she saw us when she boarded the Central Train, coming back from a relative's birthday celebration. We raised our concern as to why was she living all alone and what about her family? She started telling her life story....
She was born and raised in the suburbs. Lived in one of the central line stations. She fell in love with a guy during her school days and she eloped with her boyfriend against her parent's wishes at the tender age of 18. She was disowned by her parents i.e. Her stepmother and father and siblings. She started living with her husband and in-laws. Her husband went astray and started abusing her so much that once she fractured her hand and ended up in the hospital for few days. He also had a habit of visiting brothels & bringing home sex workers. A few months later she gave birth to his child hoping that he will mend his ways after the birth of their child, but to no avail. He continued his same old ways and she decided to leave the house with her daughter. But he didn't let her take their daughter and threw her out of the house. She was scared of him beating her up again, so didn't protest nor did she register a complaint with the police, thinking that she has no one to back her up and no family support. She then started working at a Catering Services business, rented an apartment at Nalasopara with a roommate and her cruel fate struck back when her roommate ran away with all her money and jewelry she had. Now she thankfully gets to visit her daughter from time to time as her in-laws are nice & she seems quite satisfied with her life for now. Now she has a boyfriend, and for some reason, I was concerned as to why he left her all alone and didn't come to pick her up. She told us that even he lives in Nalasopara and he directly went to Chowpatty and told her to come there as she was in the Central Line area.
I seriously hope he is a good guy (even though I'm a bit skeptic about it!)
I think the answer is pretty obvious! Patriarchy! Gosh! To be frank this country will not grow until the women are empowered.
I'm not saying to give women more rights, opportunities, and priorities but to at least be equal to both women and men
And might I suggest male chauvinists watch Men's World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NgvxN9RJSg
Anyways, I noticed all this time when she was telling us the story she had no sign of sadness. It seemed she didn't rue anything and is now happy living her life on her own terms. She was in no way fishing out sympathy from us as she was happy to share her story with us and was quite friendly. Finally, we got down to our destination and we waited for few min for her friends to come. She even appreciated how I look! 
She left with her bf & friends later
She left with her bf & friends later
These things sometimes make me wonder about God, is he really fair??? About Life!!! Things like these keep me up all night sometimes.
She isn't a bad girl. Don't judge her just because she isn't officially divorced and has a boyfriend. Just because she is separated, just because she made the decision to elope doesn't make her a promiscuous woman. She was an innocent girl in love and just followed her heart. Although it didn't end up well for her but I'm sure there will be bright days ahead of her.
I always make my own decisions because tomorrow I don't wanna blame anybody else, that you are the reason why I am suffering. I just want to do what I want and I will be ready to face the repercussions, good or bad, whatever it may be. I'll just be happy knowing that I am the only one responsible for my decisions.
People might get hurt by my decisions, judge me and think I am heartless but I am sorry for making myself happy!!!
People might get hurt by my decisions, judge me and think I am heartless but I am sorry for making myself happy!!!
And I think that girl did the same. I think she is happy knowing that at least she followed her heart. Did what she wanted to. Got away from the stupid shackles of society and didn't care about others, only about her happiness because that's all that matters.
On 1 January 2015, early morning we drove to Sidhhivinayak Temple and I prayed for her. The whole night she kept popping in my head, hoping she was having fun.
To this day, she comes across my mind and every time she does I pray for her well being and I really hope she is fine!
There is a small part of me who wants to meet her again but then I always wonder....what will I say to her....????
Until then.....GOOD LUCK!!!
There is a small part of me who wants to meet her again but then I always wonder....what will I say to her....????
Until then.....GOOD LUCK!!!
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