Salim and Kayal #Watty's 2016 # YourStoryIndia #ProjectWomanUp

How I wish.........

Kayal's POV

It was a warm Sunday morning and we were chatting something after reading the newspaper. The topic shifted to the disproportionate assets case of our chief Minister Dr.J.Jayalalitha. I couldn't help thinking about Arignar(Scholar, it's a title) C.N.Annadurai (Ex chief Minister of our State) on whom the ruling political party is named. "He was such a simple and humble person that when he died he didn't have any assets of his own. Even the few veshti (long white garment tied from men's waist to feet) he had few holes in it. He had a debt of few hundred rupees. He died of Cancer. Till this day his funeral procession which took place on 3rd February 1969 holds the Guinness record for the highest attendance for a funeral. Imagine around fifteen million people taking part in funeral procession. He won our hearts. We aren't lucky enough to see him alive."

Jaanu spoke with me, "I have heard about him. He was one of the most educated person of his time."

I agreed, "He had a M.A. in Economics and Politics."

Suddenly Sara came out of the bathroom and interrupted our conversation. "Today I am leaving with John. I will be back soon."

I replied, "I am leaving for British Council Library. I will be back by lunch."

Sara and John will be booking our tickets today. I paid my fifty per cent share to Sara. Jaanu paid almost thirty per cent. Sara, said it's okay if she didn't pay. But, Jaanu insisted. So she took the money from her. We just had two more days for our exams. But, staying insides for a long time is suffocating. So, I chose to go to my favorite British Council Library. I love that place. After my breakfast, I left in an auto.

The Library was amazing. It had a great collection of books. After browsing for few hours I felt my stomach grumbling. Since it was very hot, instead of my usual caffeine dose I settled for a sweet lime juice from a road side vendor. It tasted good. Just when I was drinking that juice I saw a vehicle hitting a young woman. The vehicle sped off. The young woman fell down and heavy blood was flowing from her head. I rushed near her. A traffic cop also came near us. I suddenly removed my dupatta(similar to stole worn with Churidhar) and tied it around her head. She was unconscious. A woman who looked like the girl's mother came running towards us. The traffic cop consoled her and took both of them in an auto. A hospital was there in the next right. So, instead of waiting for an ambulance, they took an auto.

Salim's POV

When I saw Kayal removing her dupatta and tying that woman's bleeding head, I felt very uncomfortable. I crossed the road and stopped a running auto. By then the traffic cop and that woman's mother had boarded an auto. She was trying to cover her front with a thick book. But, men were still staring at her. Shameless men. She was wearing a churidhar, without a dupatta it looked odd. I could sense her embarrassment. I asked the auto driver to stop in front of her and I got out of the auto. "Get inside". I could see the shocked expression when I yelled at her. She was about to protest, but when she saw that there was no other auto in this side of the road she got inside. I didn't like the way the auto driver was staring at her. I didn't trust him to take her safely to our campus. I got inside the auto with much reluctance. I was angry. I know she removed her dupatta to save a life. Still, I got angry because so many men were staring at her.

If at all if it had been winter I would have happily given her my jacket. But, it was hot summer. I was wearing only a jhubba (a knee length garment worn by men). But, I didn't like the way the auto driver was staring at her through the rear view mirror. Suddenly, I removed my jhubba and turned it to the right side and gave it to her. I tried to avoid looking at her but I could sense she was surprised. She spoke in a low voice. "Thank you, but I am okay".