Eleven Minutes

It wasn't that late that evening, 4:45 to be precise, I was in public vehicle, completely filled, Returning home from a happy meeting, Informed my lover of a safe exit, Kept my known on a call while traveling, "safety parameters all checked" "Kurti" a dress not revealing "checked" 4:48, a place all crowded, A man in late 30's groped my breast, Took my video without consent, Laughed off when I protested. So I took his phone and deleted, A little boldness is needed... Or maybe not? That's what I understood, When my revoking brought him an urge of revenge, 5:00, he decided to avenge, Not losing my calm, I kept walking ahead. 2 woman next to me, Sealed their mouth like sugar and honey. 5:05, he kept following, 5:07 he snatched my phone, I ran behind to a known lane, Unknown faces all merciless, Passed by considering it personal, 5:10 his hands on my chest, His legs shaky, losing his balance, And then I lost my track of time, What shall I mention in police record files? My face pressed against the wall, A drunk mouth near my lips, Wounds on my neck, Scratches on my wrist, I was strangled by a piece of string. Muffled drums beating in my ears, When he brushed against my right jowl. I held his hands, We struggled in a frame, Not like numbers and mathematics, So I counted till ten, In a hope of emergency exit And their were spectators cheering. Pushed against the wall, I tightly locked my knees, They said, that's the safeguard for your family's honor and respect. So I held back, and dipped my nails, Into his skin like a funeral grave, While his chest still over me, Although I struggled breaths, Flashbacks of faces ran in my head, A stringent fear of an cataclysm, And daunting fear rushed in my veins, While I kept digging my nails, My cheek still against the wall, He had anger to present, While he lost his hold on me, I had my chance to escape, My legs still entangled to his He ripped off my "decent kurti" to mention, Not attracting much of men's attention, But to still maintain his hold, Blessings I suppose, I fled, Fled like I was the culprit, While 5 passer-by just gazed, Silent spectators, Missed their chance of another mourning  parade. Eleven minutes I believe it was, My heart still beats louder than any other voices. Eleven minutes, And my lover regrets his absence, My friends heartbroken and nervous, Eleven minutes, My mother chanting prayers, And still shaking, My father acting like he does not know anything. Eleven minutes, And I'm trying to understand, Eleven minutes, Whom to blame?

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About the Author

Sakshi is from Ranchi, Jharkhand, India. She's currently in first year of graduation, and likes to express her feelings through words. Eleven minutes is close to her heart as it's a depiction of her story and a story of many girls out there.