Hailing from a small town I have always been afraid of stepping out of home post 6PM. Because in towns the shops would close down, the streets would go empty as soon as the night approaches. It's basically is the time of people returning back to their homes not going out. And there are dogs running behind cars, howling and barking. So I find it awkward, until and unless I am going out for dinner. But that's a different thing. So this incident goes back to 2019 when I was in Gurgaon.

Being in a big city didn't change me as I had thought. I was still the same. I would return from office at 7PM. My flat was just three min.away from my room. I would go out only for dinners. But if I had to meet a friend I would meet him/her in the noon. Also the condition of women in this country, their safety scare me. So I would decide to sit at home. But that one fine day one of my closest friends was coming to the city. And he decided to meet me mid way. He asked me to meet him at a restaurant near Huda City Centre. I used to live at Guru Dronacharya. I straight away told him I wouldn't me coming. He insisted. We were at the same place after 14 whole months, but I was reluctant. And then I questioned myself for how long am I going to be this coward? That question really shook me as I had no answers. Now my dumb ass didn't think of boarding the metro. Why? Because first- when you don't travel then how are you going to know about the routes? Second- My brain doesn't work at times.

I booked a cab on uber. The cab came, I sat in the car and started praying to every single God- “God please save me today. I want to return home nicely."( The fear of women in this country) So now I have reached the location but there weren't any restaurants. It was an empty road and on that road a cab in which a driver whom I don't know and me. I started hearing the sound of my heart beating so rapidly. The cab person went like- “ Madam, we have reached your location." I was like- “Yes sir, I am just getting out of the car, wait a min..” I was so scared and confused that I had no idea of what should I do. But then he asked me- “ Madam, where do you want to go exactly? You had put this place's location but here isn't anything.” And I can't put in words how scared I got at that time. But I told him the restaurant's name I had to visit. He asked- “Where you going to meet someone?” And again I replied with just one word- “Yes”. He said- “The person you were going to meet has he/she reached the restaurant? If they have then call them and ask the correct location I will drop you there." And at this point I just grabbed my phone called my friend and told him everything. He told me to wait at the same spot only said he is coming to pick me up. I was relaxed. I thanked the cab driver and got out of the car, waiting for my friend to come. That cab driver stood there only with me and after 2-3 min. he said-"Madam, please get in the car till your friend arrives. A girl standing alone in the streets doesn't give good impression. I am not going to accept any other ride till your friend comes. Don't worry!" 

These words lightened my mind. I sat in the car and then he spoke nothing neither do I. But I was so relieved. And then I saw my friend approaching. I got out the cab, thanked the cab driver and told him-" If everyone we meet becomes like you then how easy can our lives get." He smiled and then my friend thanked him and he drove off. 

It's been 2 years to that incident and I still think of that cab driver at times. How just a gender has created so much terror in the other gender that we tend to look at everyone with the same mentality. And yet few are there who prove humanity and goodness still exists.