I must have been around 12, and I clearly remember that my house was near the school. There were two shortcuts that led to school entrances, both hardly 3 minutes away.

The classes used to be early, in those days we even had a zero period. Despite living nearby, I had to leave by around quarter to 8 am.

Mom left early, as she had attendance to mark and faculties to greet. On the day of my unforgettable incident, as I was casually, slowly walking, carrying my schoolbag on my shoulders, a man on a cycle, passed by...

His face was covered with a gamcha and as he neared me, taking advantage of the fact that it was still early for the road to be alive, he slowed his cycle, extended his hand, and pressed my breast....

Before he could hold my hand, and corner me, I screamed, mixed with tears... Vicinity people came out, and the man fastened the pedal and went away.

Interestingly, though everyone who heard, consoled me, that nothing had happened and I was safe, I was offered by neighbours to be dropped back home or school, as I felt comfortable...

Despite my finger pointing in a blank, between sobs, towards the road he had vanished to, none extended the help to either chase after the man or lodged a complaint.

As mom came home, I was scolded for not being cautious and given pepper spray, from that day on, to be carried along...

Unfortunately, till date, no one knows or recognises that masked man, what else and worst he might have perpetrated is evident...

How many such school-going girls have been his victim, no one knows...

Such incidents don't shake the conscience of the society, and that itself is very unfortunate, "Kyunki shukar hai bachav ho gya..."

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