Greetings!
As it is the bus rides in Karachi are never short of adventures, one always meets the nicest people and the most memorable incidents on board these vehicles (NOTE: that was pure sarcasm!)
Talking about bus rides, I also happen to remember another incident that took place on another usual early morning trip to the university. That day, thankfully, I was able to get a more comfortable seat on the bus and hence was freer to observe other commuters, not bothered by throbbing pains developing on embarrassing areas of my body. It is worth mentioning here, that particular week had numerous reports of rape cases in Karachi in weird backgrounds with no follow-ups on the aftermath whatsoever. The situation of the city has sadly not improved much from those days and women are still harassed, more openly now. My reason for being ever-vigilant on board these public vehicles is also attributed to these conditions in the city. Hence it is inevitable unusual happenings skip my notice and here I am reporting one.
The woman who stepped on board this time was absolutely normal, fitting every description of a normal traditional Pakistani lady. This time, no one turned to stare at this lady whatsoever. She was clean as far as “public’s business” is concerned. However, the reason I am narrating this lady unfolded a few minutes after her travel started.
This lady was dressed in a sky-blue long frock and a trouser beneath, with the stole wrapped around her head covering her hairs. A brown bag hung from her arms as she sat down in the seat exactly opposite mine, right above the engine. She paid the bus-conductor the transport fee as everyone did. However, later, I felt her eyes defocus as she mentally migrated away from the bus.
I continued to stare at her for straight 10 minutes, but she seemed to be oblivious to my stare. I looked around at the other commuters; they did not seem remotely interested in that lady’s absolute loss of response. I looked at her again, and still, her reflexes seemed to be out of action. She was continuously staring at the bus floor, not registering any changes in her surroundings, not responding to any stimulus (Note: She was not asleep!!).
Looking at her lost persona, I caught myself feeling sympathies for that lady without knowing her troubles. The news from the past few days reverberated in my ears, and I thought that may be the reason.
Women victimized of sexual harassment in Pakistan tend to lose interest in life and draw back into the shadows. The head-stole typically appears on these victims suddenly and they usually abstain from public appearance until and unless it poses an absolute necessity, which is not quite uncommon in Pakistan.
That lady, though apparently well-dressed and up-to-date, looked withered beyond her capacity the way she sat lost in her thoughts. I continued to observe her but she sat motionless and non-responsive. Half-way through my journey when the bus rolled across the Hill Park road, I noticed that lady jerk back into action.
As though she just realized where she was, she looked around in confusion. Completely lost with regards to what was happening around her, she seemed to be taking rather longer in registering her surroundings. She looked around again. As though she had finally remembered where she was and why she was on a bus, she looked through the windscreen of the bus and asked the driver, “Hill Park Hospital pe rokeayga!” (Please halt at the Hill Park Hospital).
It was at that time I couldn’t help feeling guilty for having assumed such a disaster about her. It struck me that lady was not maybe thinking about herself, but for the loved one she missed. In the 20seconds the bus stopped for this lady, I saw her get off the bus and head for the Hospital gate and all I could feel then was pure shame.
I was thankful thoughts are contained inside the brain and not let out unless words support them. I was thankful no one had heard what was going on inside my brains. I was thankful no one knew my assumptions. I silently prayed for all the distressed people. I apologized to the Almighty for thinking so negatively about the lady who would never know my thoughts. I was guilty of thinking wrong, and I silently prayed in favor of that unsuspecting lady. The rest of my journey passed likewise.
However, now when I think about it, I analyze my own doings as “judging the book by its cover”. I did not bother asking that lady anything, and I went too far in assuming her problems. I did what most people wrongly do. Though my wrong was not public, that did not make it right. I realized what vital roles one’s persona and body language plays. As a Bachelor in Business Administration Student, I realized why everyone at the university puts such an emphasis on grooming and presentation. I realized how and why I went so wrong. At that time, I decided physical appearances do matter, as opposed to my earlier beliefs of pure contradiction. I find this piece shareable for the wrong I did and everyone is prone to doing.
That concludes this Blog.
Peace.
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