deviousways

So an out-of-town cop beat up his daughter in public, over an alleged affair.  People, including the girl's own mother, stood by and watched. I am sure the mother was distraught. But she did nothing. Two women passersby (may their tribe increase!) came to the girl's rescue and called the local cops. But in the end, the daughter failed to file a complaint. No surprises there. Perhaps the daughter is used to this kind of behaviour. Perhaps the mother gets beaten up too, back in their hometown. Perhaps both mom and daughter are conditioned to expect this abuse from the husband/father. Perhaps the daughter will go on to marry a man who will beat her up too. And if she has a daughter, than that girl too will grow up thinking this is normal. And the cycle of abuse will continue. Who is to blame? The mother for doing nothing. Mind you, she is a teacher. The bystanders for doing nothing. (Someone even took photographs. I wonder if someone else took a video on his/her s...

Two times now, I've seen it happen. Twice, I've seen men, ordinary-looking chaps, verbally and physically abuse the women with them. While people around them did nothing. One man was young, he had an identity tag. He wore formal pants, nice stout shoes. I saw him kick the young woman with him, straight in the gut, with those shoes. His companion was in burkha but she seemed young.  The other man was older. He harangued the woman with him loudly and crudely. He spat at her, followed her when she tried to walk away. Shook her by the shoulders, repeatedly. Both men did this at a public park, in full view of dozens of people milling around. Walkers walked, joggers jogged, various men lounged about, sat around. The onlookers watched the two men do these terrible things. And they did nothing. I am not a brave person. In my heart I was terribly afraid--that if I confront them, they could hurt me, find out where I live, hurt my family. But I was ashamed to stand by and watch. S...

The man had been spewing abuse for over 30 minutes.  He ranted, he raved. She stood there, head bowed. Who was he, I don't know. Who she was, I don't care.  Let's be honest, they were simply a nuisance. People walked, jogged past them Carefully navigating around that angry, shouting man. I understand Tamil but not what he shouted at her. Words so crude, so cruel, they felt like stones. My friend and I were at the park too. We ignored the couple for as long as we could. Why did she keep standing there, I asked myself. Why didn't she just walk away? Then he spat on her, and she let his spittle rain on her. Finally, she took a few steps away, walking slowly, head bent Eyes down, she avoided all the curious faces turning to her. He stood there too looking after her. He was angry, you see, that she was actually walking away. So, he followed her on his bike. He forced her to turn to him, shook her hard. Still she said nothing, did nothing. I saw the park ...