Travel Moments Turning Memoirs Part 2: Follow Me Not
The name itself makes it clear that this is in continuation of my last post. Without that this will not really make sense. So if you haven’t given that a read, here’s the link- Part 1
Incidence 3: Like I said we were in search for some wholesome dinner. We were roaming around the market lanes of Ooty, talking to a few taxi guys to figure out the general rates of travelling within and about. When a man, middle aged, came up to us and gave a smile. Since we had been asking around the place, he probably had been observing us. He introduced himself- “Hi, I have been seeing you girls just roaming about the taxi stand, bus stops, hotels, do you need something?” We first ignored but he smiled and knew English so we just said the obvious that we have been figuring out the place around. He was a local and who better to ask for a good place to eat at? We just casually asked him about the famous place in Ooty for authentic South Indian delicacies. What started as a help, went on to become an elongated conversation.
He told us that there’s a place which wasn’t near enough to walk so we would have to take a rickshaw. He even went and spoke to a few rickshaw wallahs under the pretext of them charging us more because obviously we are tourists! Duh! He then spoke of his family, told us of his two small daughters, even showed us their photos in his phone.
He asked us where we were from, where we were going next, all with a smile and helping nature intact. It was best to lie a few things here. He even told us how we shouldn’t think of him with wrong intentions as he was a father himself. That kinda was unsettling, why would someone suggest of not having ‘any intentions.’ With him talking so much, we figured he was drunk from his stench. It was best to get rid of him. As he figured we were thinking of going the opposite way, he followed us again. He said he was going the same way and that we should take a walk accompanying him. NO!
This kind of went about for a while, he trying to make a conversation, we getting away, he preaching about Follow Jesus, God is great sermons and saying he would give us a few numbers who would help us. Next, he asked us for money. His lines, “I am very poor man madam, I need money for alcohol!” I was filled with so much anger that I could have probably hit him with whatever I get in hand, but then again it wasn’t a way. We finally had to shout at him in middle of the road ‘Get Lost’ when he realised that he better move away before we created a scene.
This whole incident had angered me so much, I don’t think me or my friends ate much that night anyway. It was just a day here, we had a whole week to go by ourselves. I missed having my guy gang around, a small feeling of helplessness crept in. Not that anything major had happened but it could’ve, had we not been careful. We were being followed from I don’t know when. Walking back on that street in the night felt uncomfortable, not vulnerable. But even that feeling would come in soon had we seen him again. Not every person on the street seemed helpful anymore, the stares felt more brooding. I am not exaggerating here, but being in a new place on your own, just we 3 girls started feeling unconvincing. I agree it was a mistake on our part to having entertained him for even the shortest while, but who knew the creep behind the smile.
Such things happen to everyone, some exceed to serious conclusions, some hurtful incidences but until it happens to you, we think it is a safe place. That something like this can happen to you is what we never estimate. Such experiences are ones that teach you, tell you where you lack, and test your tackling abilities.
Is that the end already?
ReplyDeleteYes. Did not want to fictionalize it.
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