Every day I have to travel some 40 kilometers to reach my workplace,I use public buses for that. Our esteeemed member @desigal wrote a beautiful article about local buses in Bangalore,so I don't have to tell much about it. I face the morning crowd of office goers and college sMr_Customernts,as well as daily workers from different factories in Bangalore outskirts. There are many differences in these people. I have a habit of observing people; I just love to watch them,noticing these differences. Sometimes I come across many weird habits,sometimes it's funny. But as a lady-commuter,the feeling that I have observed in most of the ladies,is insecurity.
Insecurity comes in different forms. Not only from the members of opposite sex,but sometimes it's from other lady passangers also,who try to co-operate too much. One day a lady was offered help from her co-passanger,she wanted to hold the first one's heavy office bag as she was getting trouble to stand in that crowded bus. After getting down,the first lady discovered that her mobile is missing! Yes,pick-pocketing is incresed now a days. Now if I come across her,I see her holding her bag tightly; this is out of insecurity. So,what's the lesson number one? Don't ever trust anybody who offeres unsolicited help! Better take care of your belongings yourself.
One irritating habit I have observed here. The gents sometimes occupy the ladies seats even if a lady is standing and argue badly while being asked to vacate the seat. Generally the asking part is done by the conductor,then it's fine. But if a lady asks for it,they will not leave without arguing. A trend is here,girls don't want to share a twin seat with a male. This is also out of insecurity. Many times I came across well-dressed gents who misbehave with girls seating next to them. Either they occupy most of the seat,or they behave cheaply,no need to discuss how. Because of these problems ladies avoid seats where a man is seated already. We can't be blamed,our previous experiences only taught us to do so! Lesson number two,it's better to be safe than the discomfort and annoyance,which you can't even describe to others.
The third and the last type of insecurity is somehow insane. But I am curious about it. I have seen a group of people who,after getting into the bus take out their wallet and start counting the money. Once it's over and they're satisfied,they look around suspiciously and return the wallet back to its position. This is really interesting. Why do they do so? Is it out of the insecurity that somebody stole his/her wallet? Or, out of the insecurity that seeing them ,nobody can guess about his financial status????!! Few people like to show off,but I don't think these people belong to that category. As if they want to say,"See,I have enough money to do anything,I'm better than you!" Well,this is not the case. If we go deep into their thoughts,it's a result of insecurity too. May be previously they suffered from financial crisis. Now when they have it sufficiently,they just want to show off whenever they get a chance. Being in the bus is also an opportunity to them to show off the wealth,alongwith the branded dresses and accessories. Poor thing,they can't trust the people whom they are showing this too! But yes,it looks odd. You don't feel easy if somebody is doing that sitting next to you,and giving you strange looks!
Well, is there any way to get out of these insecurities? Definitely,I should say. Stay careful,but don't panic......that could be the only solution. In my childhood,I heard a beautiful proverb," If you think of the evil all the times,it comes chasing after you". So why to attract negative thoughts and its after-effects? Be alert,be careful,but not nervous. If you are being treated badly,then protest . Don't be hysteric or over-react,that will only complicate the situation. A firm protest can save a person from embarrassment. If something is lost,report to police. Never check your belongings repeatedly,it draws attention of people will ill-motives. Stay safe,stay secured. Get out of insecurities. Life is very promising and you are here to get benefited from all its opportunities. So live the life with joy and happiness,not with insecurities.
