I hate the train.
I always take the train when coming from class.
Pa insists that it's cheaper than an Uber and that it's always reliable. He says that unlike the bus which is usually late due to traffic the train is always on time. I agree but I hate it anyway. He's never around to pick me up so I'm stuck having to catch the train with my measly pocket money.
Whenever I leave college with my classmates they would peel off to find taxis while I headed for the station to catch the train. I hated it. I hated the crowds, I hated the smell, I hated the noise. Sometimes during rush hour the train would become so crowded that I would be forced to stand throughout the trip.
Throngs of people would jostle into one another as we tried vainly to support ourselves using the railings that hang overhead. I suppose I shouldn't mind the chaos because it is part and parcel of life in a third-world country but frankly, I still hate it anyway.
It was a few minutes to 5 when I walked out into the warm New Delhi air after a long day at school. I was clad in a long dark saree, a pair of sandals and I had a scarf draped over my shoulder to cover my exposed back. My satchel was slung over my other shoulder.
Since it was rush-hour there was a large crowd of commuters already on the platform. I bought a ticket, squeezed in between several commuters and boarded the train. It was packed to the brim.
Keep in mind that this is India we're talking about. This isΒ a country that is home to more than 1 billion people. New Delhi alone houses 18 million people and the train I was on was one of 320 trains that carry a total of 2.5 million people throughout the city daily. Some of these trains were known to have people dangling off the sides while many others could be found seated on the roof. That's how crowded they could get.
As soon as I got in I looked out into the carriage and there were people standing as far as my eye could see. The air was thick and it was filled with sweat, cheap deodorant, strong perfume and the distinct scent of stale cigarette smoke. All the seats were occupied and everyone else had to contend with standing up, myself included. I couldn't find any space among the throng so I planted myself right next to one of the doors. I could get some respite watching the countryside during the trip and I could just as well avoid becoming trapped in a crush when I alighted.
The train set off not long after and off we headed towards the suburbs. I clutched tightly at the railing with my free hand as we lurched forward and drew my satchel closer to my chest with my free hand.
Then I felt it.
An almost imperceptible touch on my exposed back.
I figured whoever was behind me was trying to steady themselves so I ignored it. I felt it again. This time, a hand pushing against the small of my back. I turned around to find the culprit but all I could see were unconcerned figures swaying back and forth.
I focused back ahead and fixed my gaze through the window upon the trees that were whizzing by in a blur. The train was now picking up speed. As I observed the view outside I suddenly felt a hand distinctly cup my backside. I whirled around ready to raise the alarm and found myself staring right into a huge chest.
I slowly looked up to see a bearded heavy-set man gazing down at me. He looked to be in his mid-40s and could have passed for one of my Dad's friends.Β He had a large tuft of dark hair, his olive skin glistened with oil and sweat and his stubble was a few days old. His large lips remained firmly set in a bemused frown and he looked down at me with an impassive gaze. He couldn't have been more creepy if he tried.
I was terrified.
Let me point out that I am a fairly small Indian woman. I'm 5 foot 4 and I weigh 110 pounds on a good day so I'm as petite as it gets. This man was several inchesΒ taller and about 200 pounds. His large rounded shoulders completely obscured the light behind him and his ample belly stuck out under his blue dress shirt. Needless to say, he was huge.
I turned back around, obviously flustered. 'Now what?' I thought. I had a pervert fondling me in the middle of a crowded train and he was the size of a house. If I raised the alarm I wasn't sure whether anyone would be bothered to help. I probably wasn't the first woman to be assaulted on a train and anyway, if the man was brazen enough to fondle me he was likely capable of worse. We had just left the station so we were still far from home. The train wasn't going to stop to kick someone out so what could I do?