Scared

It's the same path I have crossed millions of time. But today I'm afraid!! actually, scared...

It's 11:30 PM. I thought I would reach my hostel by 10:00 PM, but that stupid bus got repaired in the middle of no-where. I have waited for 1 hour to get another bus. I never thought I would reach too late and I would be afraid of this darkness. Actually I'm not scared of the dark, I'm scared of what I'm going to lose in the dark, I'm scared of what every parent get scared,  when their daughter are late to home, I'm not scared of the ghosts, I'm scared of the living ghosts who is walking towards me in the end of the street. 

Should I run? or should I just walk past them thinking they meant no harm? or should I think them as brothers? will they think me as a sister?  I don't know what to do, I stand there where the bus dropped me a few seconds before, each and every second that four men are nearing in my direction.

I decided something in mind and started to walk in other direction. I wanted to act as casual as possible, I don't want to show my fear in my walk or in my face and I tried it as much as I could.

I know they are nearing me, I increased my speed. I heard them laughing and saying something which I don't hear, I understand now that they were drunk I can even smell that. I can hear their footsteps nearing to me more and more close.

I want to run, but to where? may be to the hostel which is 10 minutes far. Should I call the police? but my phone is dead an hour back. Should I ask them, "Don't you have sisters? stop following me". What if my life is going to end today, but I don't want it to end this way. I don't want to become an headline of news stating "A Girl was brutally raped and found dead ...". Oh god!!! I'm praying all the gods of all religion. Thinking all of this I'm still walking. 

Suddenly they are too close to me and one of the men come before me and said "Dude! she is pregnant" .

"oh really! this is not fair, I thought we got a nice meal today" a man from my back said.

"That's not a problem, she may be pregnant, but who cares? today she is our prey" said other.

I thought they would spare me because I'm pregnant, because I thought them as humans but they are animals, "DRUNKEN ANIMALS".

I saw a tea stall few feet away which is open still, I pushed away the man before me and ran there thinking that I can get some help. 

There is a Man in the stall, he must be the owner. I don't know whether to trust him or not. I just see him with my terrified eyes and I tried to ask him to help me from them, but I can't able to breathe properly because of the running. He handed me a glass of water, I refused and show him the direction where those men are still nearing in our direction with wicked smiles. 

Suddenly the Man in the stall came outside and closed the stall. I now know that I'm dead, he is also one of them. But he proved me I'm wrong. 

"Why are you so late, pooja? Mother is waiting for you without eating? where is your husband, we thought he also coming with you?" he shouted at me like he is my brother. Now I have some courage now. but will this stop them. I turn back to see them, they are still there but they are standing and talking something furiously within themselves.

Now this Man take his phone out "Hello! Dad, are you still in police station for your night duty? ....I just called you to say pooja came.... yes! yes! just now...No, he has not come, .... oh!! we are in the stall only, you must be near somewhere...then come and take us home...okay dad, come quick, there are some people, stalking our girl" he said and cut the phone

Now I turn back they are going back without looking in our direction. 

"Thank you brother! I'll never forget this help in my life, you are like god to me now" I thanked him, I don't know what else to do.

"It's okay sister, please don't walk in the street in late night, it's not safe" he said and asked my place. He walked with me to my place and wait still I go inside and he went back. 

I came inside my room and locked. I removed the handbag inside my saree which helped me to show me as pregnant lady, which I placed when I start walking from the bus stop. 

I'm safe now, but still I'm scared for those Women who become prey to human animals because they don't get tea stall brother as I got today. I'm scared.....