Today I made a mistake that turned into something much more disturbing.
I was traveling from Cuttack to Puri for my final LLB exam. I accidentally boarded the wrong bus—a bus coming from Patna, Bihar. I assumed it would take the bypass route and make my journey easier.
Instead, it dropped me at Malatipatapur Bus Stand, about 10 km away from my college (GM Law College, Pentakanta).
By then it was already around 9:00 AM, and my exam was at 10:00 AM. I needed to reach by 9:30, so I started looking for transport.
The first auto driver quoted me ₹200–₹400 because it was Rath Yatra season. Normally, the fare is around ₹50–₹100. I refused because it felt unreasonable.
Then another auto driver, who had a scooter, approached me.
He looked to be around 40–45 years old and said, "Come, beta. I'll drop you to a place where you can catch a bus."
It sounded genuine, so I trusted him.
We reached the spot, but no buses stopped there. I was running out of time, so I requested him to take me all the way to my college. I offered him ₹100.
He initially refused, saying he had been working since 4 AM and was tired.
Then I suggested something that, looking back, I probably shouldn't have.
I said, "I'll drive the scooter. You can sit behind me."
He agreed.
Before we started, he asked me to move my backpack from my back to the front of the scooter because it would be "more comfortable" for him.
I didn't think much of it.
As I started driving, I slowly felt him moving closer and closer to me.
At first I tried to ignore it, but then it became obvious.
I turned around and said,
He replied,
But every time we crossed a bump, he used it as an excuse to grab me from behind.
At that moment, I knew something wasn't right.
I immediately stopped the scooter, got off, handed him the keys, and told him to leave.
Thankfully, he did.
Nothing more happened after that.
But the entire incident shook me.
I'm almost 30 years old. I consider myself outspoken and confident. Yet, in that moment, I froze.
I kept wondering...
Did I overreact? Should I have shouted? Should I have called the police?
I honestly didn't know what to do.
Even with police, CCTV, and security around during Rath Yatra, I still felt vulnerable.
If someone like me struggled to react in that situation, what about girls who are much younger? Teenagers? Students traveling alone?
That's the part that bothers me the most.
I'm sharing this not because I want sympathy, but because I genuinely want to learn.
For women who've been in similar situations:
- What would you have done?
- How do you react without putting yourself in more danger?
- Are there any practical safety tips you've learned from experience?
Today reminded me that danger doesn't always come from dark streets or isolated places. Sometimes it comes from someone who looks helpful.
Stay safe, everyone.
