Sharon had heard of people being molested on the train. For that matter she'd even been groped herself, both on the station and on the train. It was just one of the hazards a young woman had to watch out for.
But a full on indecent assault in the middle of a crowded train with a hundred or so people packed into the carriage? She wouldn't have believed it possible.
It had been a hot day and Sharon had dressed for the weather. In the office she might need to be smartly turned out but as far as she was concerned there was no way she was travelling on the train in her work clothes. After work she'd shed her official suit and donned a shift; far more appropriate for this sort of weather.
The train before hers had been cancelled with apologies. Defective air conditioner in the driver's cabin, or something like that. This meant that, instead of being at the front of the platform and almost guaranteed a seat, she was standing on the platform behind a host of passengers.
The train pulled in and Sharon found herself swept forward with the crowd and jammed aboard in a large, hot, sweaty throng.
You may have noticed in some trains that there is a single seat tucked just around from the doors, usually labelled with a tag saying this seat should be given to elderly or handicapped passengers. Sharon didn't actually get that seat, but she was jammed into the space immediately in front of it.
The train started with a jerk and someone bumped hard against Sharon. She had no room to move her feet and found herself suddenly sitting on the lap of the man who had claimed that single seat.
Red faced, Sharon struggled to her feet, apologizing profusely. She'd barely managed to stand when she was bumped again and sitting again.
Before she could struggle to her feet again, an arm went around her waist.
"Listen, woman," growled the passenger. "Instead of spending the journey falling onto me every five minutes why don't you just sit on my blasted knee and don't move. It'll be simpler for both of us."
Embarrassed, Sharon found that the man's solution did make sense. The train was so crowded that the space she had been occupying had already been filled. Any attempt to stand would only result in her being knocked down again.
After a few moments, the man spoke to her again.
"I trust you don't mind if I read the newspaper?" he drawled.
He reached around her, opening the newspaper across her lap and commenced reading. Sharon found herself also reading it as the train proceeded on its way.
Sharon was taken by complete surprise when the man's hand moved off the paper and ducked under it, landing on her leg. To her amazement, under the cover of the newspaper he ran his hand up her leg, sliding it under her shift and laying claim to her mound.