I was browsing though Times of India and for couple of days main headline covers Ruchika's case. I ignored it first thinking might be just another case, what the fuss about it. But when even after 2 days news headlines were same, I couldn't control my curiosity and finally typed "Ruchika Case" in wiki (thanks to wikipedia).
I was stunned while reading through the whole case. Teenage girl's molestation is not new though, however, harassment after such a base deed is surprising. I felt as if I am reading an exaggerated movie plot. Kudos to the family, who are still fighting and have faith in Indian Law!!
I remember my teen age, I used to go tuition with my friends early morning 5 am in winter. Most of my teachers were good or my mom used to monitor each and every person carefully. One of my tutor in his 50's used to live alone just to give tuition and earn more money than usually gov school teacher's gets in salary.
We were all girls in my tuition slot. I used to feel that the teacher always look for some reason to touch ( I dunno what can one get in touch but that what people do ...crazy!!). One day, he crossed his limit and the moment I and my friend entered his house, he tried to grab my friend. And the same moment I turned back and saw his intentions were not correct; thus to avoid situation worsening; I called my friends name very loud.
The next moment, he behaved as if nothing happened. My friend looked at me surprisingly as if what has happened!!. This is something, we girls can't even share until we are sure. And I was really not sure, whether really his intentions were wrong or I misinterpreted. I kept quite.
However, she was my very close friend, I felt its my responsibility to at least warn her. After tuition, I hinted that his intentions were not wrong. Her reaction was like "are u insane, he is in 50's, he has even grand children!!". I never told my intuitions after getting such response. Not to even my mom thinking that it was 100 % my mistake.
After 2 years, I qualified JEE, and joined ISM. My friend was still preparing for JEE. When I visited her on vacations, she told me " Neha, you remember our teacher and that incident. You were right. He molested another girl and that girl's family had beaten him so badly that he was hospitalized for several months and now his tuition etc everything is closed. He left the town after that."
Back to Ruchika's case, its not about one Ruchika, this is common story of girls in India. Most of time we kept quite, or change our ways. And if a family shows courage to fight, it take 19 years to get 6 months prison punishment. I hope kabhi to india JAGEGA.