What we want to give to our future generation - freedom or life of terror?
A question we might have to answer to our children.
I went for swimming and could not enter the changing room. I knocked twice before a woman requested me to wait outside. I waited for 10 minutes, and I almost lost my patience. I knocked again. The lady opened the door. She could read my face. I was almost pissed off. As per the club rules, we cannot lock the main door. Rather than locking the changing room, she had locked the main door.
The moment I entered, the floor was wet and it was just hard to walk. Before I could give my feedback she apologised. I said, "It's fine".
I restrict talking to people, I do not know. I have created barriers within myself. My friends say - I have developed bitterness towards life. I correct them - I am just being protective or maybe I have lost confidence to trust people anymore. Somewhere Nirbhaya's case has made me feel unsafe or my own experiences have made me the way I am now!.:)
I did not ask her for clarification but she chose to clarify -
"My daughter is scared to take shower alone. She keeps the door open while she takes shower/change her clothes. She is hardly 8 years but after the gang rape, she is really scared. She does not step into her school bus, if I do not accompany her. She is scared of darkness now."
I could relate to the fear of that innocent child of 8 years. A question - what we want to give to our future generation - freedom or life of terror?
Maybe, the child is not scared of rape but she is scared of the brutal treatment that Nirbhaya went through. I cannot imagine all that can happen to anybody but she suffered it! I salute her strength and willpower!
Punishment to all the six rapists and strict law will give a ray of hope to many women and children who are scared. It will give them a feeling of security while travelling in their school buses. A small incident that made me feel sad for our future generation. Every girl/woman in India needs to learn - self-defense techniques. At least, you can protect yourself to an extent!
Think about the answer to my question - freedom or life of terror!
