One small interaction that stayed with me after my walk last night (Mumbai)
Was taking my usual late night walk around Backroad Lokhandwala near Tim Hortons with my headphones on blasting music.
A girl walked past me from the opposite direction and I noticed a golden WagonR on the other side of the road honking and flashing lights at her. At first I thought maybe it was just friends messing around, but then I turned back and noticed the same thing happen again — they’d drive a little ahead, stare, honk again, and keep following her pace.
Something about it felt off.
I casually walked in her direction and asked if everything was alright while continuing to walk normally beside her so I wouldn’t freak her out. She said she was okay, but when I asked if those guys were bothering her, she said yes — apparently they had been following/hassling her since near a cigarette shop almost a kilometre away.
Asked if she was okay with me walking with her till home and she said yes. Whole time I kept checking if the car was nearby. The moment I removed my headphones and started properly paying attention, the WagonR sped off and disappeared.
I thought she looked super young so midway I randomly asked “aap kitne saal ke ho?” 😭 and she goes “23.” Same age as me.
Dropped her safely till her apartment entrance, made sure she got inside the lift, and left. She tried thanking me by offering me her boba tea lol but I told her to just get inside because it wasn’t safe and to avoid walking there alone late at night next time.
Not posting this for praise or anything. Just weirded me out how common this kind of stuff probably is.