It was 8 PM in the night. The year was 2018. I was running errands as usual – groceries. It was 8 PM by the time I came out of the supermarket, ASDA, located near Park Royal bus stop in Acton/Ealing.
Sudden heavy rainfall. Cold and dark night. Empty roads. I was the only one at the bus stop. I stood waiting for the bus, with my trolley loaded with the week’s groceries. Though this bus stop is sort of right outside the store ASDA, it’s not well-lit.
Soon a man came and joined me at the stop. In no time, he began muttering something under his breath. At first, he made no eye contact with me. But the muttering slowly grew aloud. Unsure what this was about, I was slightly nervous but pretended to be fine and kept a calm face. I continued waiting at the stop, clutching my umbrella in one hand and my grocery trolley in the other. Dearly wishing for the bus (suddenly this meant safety and security!) to come soon.
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A few minutes later, two women joined us at the bus stop, with grocery bags full in each hand. I couldn’t tell their age. Burqua-clad and clearly friends, they arrived chatting loudly with each other in a language that I could not recognize. My guess is they were probably from Africa. They sat down at the thin bench at the bus stop, keeping their grocery bags close beside them.
The man ignored them. His muttering grew louder. I could tell from the corner of my eye that his eyes were now fixed on me. I carefully avoided his gaze. I hoped this would signal to him that I was not going to engage. The two women paused their conversation and looked at the man’s muttering directed at me. The man was now approaching me, muttering, and going back. He did this 4 to 5 times. I continued to stand there, unable to decide if I should go somewhere else, thinking of my options. It continued to rain even more.
A bus pulled into the stop, but this wasn’t my bus!
The two women, I think, sensed my nervousness. It can’t have been hard to guess my feelings.
With their eyes and hands, they gestured to me, as if to say:
“You board your bus first. We will wait. This is our bus. But we will skip this bus and board the next one.”
They had decided they wouldn’t leave me alone with that man!
I instantly felt braver. I was not going to be alone. I watched as their bus slowly rolled out of the stop. The two women continued to cheerfully talk to each other. I prayed hard for my bus to come.
Finally my bus!!!
I shut my umbrella and heaved my trolley into the bus. I looked back at the women. Our eyes met. The women waved at me and I waved back. The fear slowly leaving my body but too numb to feel the full emotion of gratitude.
I have often thought of that night. A simple and powerful incident.
Will I ever meet those two women again?
I would have loved to hug them for their small, thoughtful but powerful deed of care.
Solidarity can happen in so many diverse forms. Across cultural, linguistic barriers. With complete strangers or with friends.
This remains one of my strongest personal memories.
Of women looking out for one another.
Written on International Women’s Day
8th March 2024
First of all Happy International Women’s Day, Mujhe yad h, maine ye story pahli bar Nagpur me apse suni thi , i think “Womens Day” Program me. Pata nahi ladies ko kitna samjha tha but mai apke speech delever krne ke tarike se inspired ho gaya tha. Likhate rahe…
-Milind