"Hey, baby!"

"Where are you going?"

"Oh, that sexy body, *whistles*"

"You're a hot chick,"

"Hey look at there, she's wow."

"DAMN!"

"You don't wanna talk? Am I too ugly for you, dunnit?"

"Sweetie!"

"Hey, beautiful!"

"What's up miss?"

"Sexy American eagle."

Do you guys listen to music, to soothe yourself while walking somewhere?
Well, I listen to these, distasteful comments thrown on me very fruitfully. These guys consider our bodies as the basket to throw their comments on like balls.

However, like any other girl being subjected to this curt behaviour, all I do is ignore them. Yes, cause in anyways if I reply to them, I would be initiating the things, right?

Never mind, today was not divergent either. Passing through the same lane of the utopian city of New York, comments like these kept flooding me while I was dodging them.

Consternation was that I had to wait for the public bus to fetch me home, which required me to stand by the bus stop, a place where many black guarded people are found.

I became apprehensive when I felt warm breathing, nuzzling my back. Taking a few steps forward, I turned towards the miscreant, finding a crass looking pervert standing there, his appearance reflected risqué.

"Watcha doin' babe?" He spitted, to which I responded by turning away.

"Ouch! Did you just turn your back on me?"

Ignore it!
A voice in me called out.

For another five minutes, I could feel his filthy gaze on me, causing me to hurl.

Owing to it being one of his old tactics, he put his large hand on my shoulder, very professionally casting, it so he may call it "accidental".

"Keep your hands to yourself, or else..." Wherein I filled him with my incomplete threat, he laughed it off.

"Or else?... What will you do babyyy?"

He knew it, he knew my threats were going to be hollow, with no potential in them as I could do nothing.

What will I do?
Shout?
Call the police?
That would be vain as apparently, he did nothing criminal, he was merely throwing comments on me and making me uncomfortable, just that.
Nothing so huge to whine about; however, that's a different issue that things would be categorised distinctly if he proceeds with this and in the end, rape me or sexually abuse me. But up till then, it was acceptable, isn't it?

Therefore, I had no other option than to peacefully endure the amiss behaviour he shadowed.

"Uh-huh
So seductive

I'll take you to the candy shop
I'll let you lick the lollipop.."

Those mucky words which left his mouth triggered the disgust within me.

"Have you heard this song babe?"

I started examining the surroundings to keep my mind off him when I saw a girl passing by with a boy.

She looked at me for a fraction of seconds, I mouthed, "Help me!"
For I discerned that it was not very safe sharing the space with that pervert, neither could I exit, I had to take the next bus or else it would be very difficult to get any conveyance.

After, sharing a few words between themselves, they left, scarcely acknowledging my presence.

I didn't expect that especially from a girl, can't she understand I needed some support?

Or did she leave me even after acknowledging my situation?

Detecting it to be the best opportunity, that man grabbed my hip further transcending his limits. He succeeded to make me feel worthless, indeed I was no less than an object, escalating the production of testosterone in his system.

I was a way, where he get to show his "masculinity".

Here the "I" doesn't just stand for me but for every other, male or female who quietly abides by the infringement, perverts like him subject them to.

I didn't think twice before, slapping his hand away from my body.

His next move was predictable, he was ready to jump on me, which was prevented by the piercing light from the headlights of the bus accompanied by the beep of its horn.

--------------------------

It was a blissful Sunday morning, I was returning from the church, humming my favourite song, when distinct laughter got intermixed, with the subdued lyrics.

I followed the sound, which persuaded me to witness, one boy hovering over a girl, anyone could tell she was not very comfortable in that position.

".....somebody is acknowledging you for being beautiful, at least say thank-you, eh?", the boy blurted out.

The girl turned her face towards my direction, enlightening me with the images of that night, she was the same girl who left me be, when I was in need of her generosity.

She also convinced her companion to not acknowledge my presence and carried on with her business, nonchalant by me.

The urge that rose within, to aid her, seem to fritter away, tartness taking over my mind.

Why should I be bothered?

It was not my business to look after her.

I turned to walk away, but there was an unsettling feeling eroding within me that ceased my movement.

I really didn't want to listen to the unresolved inkling that clouded me, I loathed her for snubbing me with that demon.

What if he would have raped me!?

Didn't this girl think of that?

Or was she too apathetic to disregard me even after being aware of the circumstances?

I really should not be standing here, conflicted whether to help or not that would just be a waste of time, anyways why should I be concerned for her?

"Isn't this what she did too?", my inner voice mocked me.

It made me think,

What if you were in her position and some girl would have witnessed the scene, would you not want her to help you?

Yes, I definitely would.

Then why aren't you helping her?

Because she left me in that situation.

Then you are further proving that it was the thing anyone else would do.

I...

If you are not ready to make a change, how can you expect others to take the first step?

Right, she may have made a mistake but if I don't stand up for her and did what's right, she would never realise, what she did was wrong.

I walked over to them and detached the boy from over that girl, who left a sigh of relief.

The moment, she slapped him right across his culpable face, I felt proud of her as well as myself that I didn't turn my back on her even after she did that. I was conceited, I didn't let malice take over me and did what, I would want anyone else to do for me.

------------------------------------------------------------

AN

You all know, I had met many people showing there disgrace and sympathy for girls who had been sexually abused in any way. They won't take a second before forwarding the news over social media, via television. Sometimes they would even go for, candle march and stuff.

Okay, that's great and all, but what about, when the same thing takes place in front of your eyes?

What do you do when you are compulsated to witness women/men being tortured in front of you?
You disregard it, don't even consider its existence.

That's where people go wrong.
Ever heard of, "Prevention is better than cure"
Your marches, your accusations to the government, your howling on the news channels, won't snatch the pain away from the victim.
But the one step you take, to stop that crime would definitely prevent all of the suffering that would await them.

So please be the change you want to see.