So there was I, this chilly December lunchtime, out for a run in Lutyens Delhi. The pampered, protected heart of our nation. Supposedly.
As I ran past the National Museum on Janpath – totally in the pampered, protected heart of our nation etc etc – I noticed 3 teenage boys ahead of me. Thin. Greasy hair. School uniforms. Backpacks half open. They looked at me, whispered, then turned round and faced me, 3 abreast, blocking the pavement.
“Time,” they all said.
I ignored them, so they came a step closer.
“Time,” they repeated.
Another step closer, and they all said “Time” in unison.
I went to side-step them and one of them then made a fatal mistake.
“Fuck you” he said, and they all paused, waiting to see my reaction.
In Hindi I yelled, “WHAT did you just say?”
And then they started running.
Bad move boys.
I might be old enough to be your grandmother, but I can run. I chased them down Janpath, much to their apparent horror, and as I ran – eventually – past 2 cops I yelled, once again in Hindi, “Stop those boys”.
Now in this city, with its recent history of sexual attacks on women, you would hope that 2 cops seeing a woman chasing after 3 youths might be galvanised into action.
Not a bit of it. And this is slap bang in the heart of tourist Delhi, remember.
One of them said “Purse” as I ran past, but didn’t move a muscle otherwise, and I made an on-the-spot decision to ignore these Keystone Cops and chase after the boys, who ran into one of the large colonial-era Lutyens bungalows.
I presume their parents work there, but they obviously realised that I meant business and would follow them into the quarters, so they ran back out, and we continued for a few more minutes till they slowed down, puffing and panting.
One of them started saying, in Hindi “We didn’t do anything” over and over again, to which I said “So why are you running away then?”
He instantly did a namaste and said “Maf karo auntie, maf karo” over and over again.
“It was just words,” he kept saying.
I slapped his greasy head at this, and yelled – oh how I yelled, hoping to attract a passer-by’s attention, but to no avail – “So would you use that word to your mother (twist of his ear) or to your sister (another twist of his ear)?”
“Auntie maaf karo. Maaf karo. Me sorry hu.”
And then I ran off (my split time for that km was excellent, I might add).
I wasn’t in any physical danger, despite the lack of police help and passer-by-indifference – but it was the way the 3 creeps ganged up, that made me see red.
That could have been my beautiful daughter, or anyone else’s beautiful daughter. If they were brazen about cheeking off an old age pensioner, in broad daylight, just think what they might have done to a young girl.
And I reckon that a slap to the head might knock some sense into his brain. Perhaps prevent him growing up into a full blown creep.
No further moral to this story, other than the obvious – running came to the rescue.
Young school boys u still can think teaching something but not the bigger dudes. Nothing changes. But still we all need to be strong like u and keep trying.
Reminded me of a trip I did with the boys and some friends to see the ‘moving dinosaurs’ exhibition in Delhi 1996 ish. Very crowded and my friend suddenly said ‘someone pinched my bum’ , 2 mins later ‘they did it again!’ Looking around the only candidate was a skinny kid, about 12/13 I would guess. He saw I had clocked him and ran, closely followed by me, Ben in tow. I caught up with the toe rag and grabbed his backside and gave it a good twist. He turned round, got my finger in his face and I growled at him ‘you wouldn’t do that to your mother or your sister, don’t you ever do that again!’ He probably had no idea of what I was saying but he got the jist. I would like to think he never has but that would be wishful thinking I suspect. But at least my 3 sons and my friend’s 2 got the message.
Good for you, Penny, but how depressing that 20 years on, not much has changed…
Kiran, sadly i fear you are right
Nope. Nothing has changed so far.
I would have belted them with my walking stick! Couldn’t have run after them though. Well done you. Cheeky little bu***rs!
Well done Christine Pemberton you go on defending yourself.
Sorry about your experience but great response from you. I would have given them a few more and reported the cops as well
Well done, even though I am reading it 2 years later
Brilliant – good for you
That was a good response from you Christine Pemberton.
How would three kids know the PB from a podium finisher marathoner would outweigh their collective might…
Just a slap was way too light…
Since the police were not intervening, you should have used a couple of kicks and punches too..
I wonder how youth is being dealt by their parents.
really bad
Yesterday only while my evening run a very polished young spoilt brat type couple crossed us and this guy suddenly shouts hey you fuck you with his middle finger up….. I almost turned and gave it back to him in the same language… middle finger up
Ugh Vinita – all this ugly aggression. Keep cool. Hugs
Wow, yeah, epic fail for the cops and for those boys. I can only imagine what their parents would have though. So, the question is what in the world were they blocking you and saying “time” for? Was this some sort of dumb inside joke or something? Anyway, loving the blog and the running!
Susan, I think it was their immature way of trying to “chat up” a female, by asking me the time…
Regarding my new year message mocking your running…I retract it immediately! Well done you on both running and slapping counts. I know it is a huge problem in India but there are three less now.x
So I take this as a sign you too will start running in 2015?! x
Wow – you go girrrl!
Bravo Christine, Once he recovers from the shock of being outdone by an “Old Phoren Aunty” in every which way. he might never be the same again.
This is terrible terrible…Delhi is degenerating into this utter nonsensical and failed state. You did well, but I think most women would have simply endure this as well. Keep slapping these creeps Christine…
Thanks Siddhartha. Sad that things have descended to this level, though.
good going christine.you in fact did them and their parents a service
Well done Christine.
Yay Christine!!! What a shocker you must have been…unexpected agility followed by some good old fashioned ear twisting….loving it :-)!!
Bravo.
Well done Christine.
Ninja ear twister! Well done you! They won’t be forgetting you in a hurry, and might make them think twice about doing it again not knowing what the consequences might turn out to be! My fave running ninja, ear twisting blogger!
Good effort! And thanks for entertaining me in the long and winding immigration queue 🙂
Well done Christine – I hope you scared those little baskets straight!!
Well done you…
Love it – maybe a Hindi movie??? Raise awareness? Happy 2015 super( not yet) gran!cxxx
Brave Christine….
Well done, Christine. What a nasty experience for you. What is so awful about this story is that in spite of all the articles, tv publicity etc. about “eve teasing” (an understatement), rapes and other crimes against women, young boys do not seem to be affected at all, and continue to indulge in loutish and ugly behaviour, as they always did in the past.Also shocking was that the cops didn’t bother to give chase and help you.
Thanks Brinda. Total thumbs down to the Keystone cops.
Wow Christine. Role model woman 🙂
Oh my brave lady…. so so proud of you ….. Kudos to u dear. You are role model .. brave inspiration.
Never judge a book by it’s cover?? Bet they will remember being chased by auntie!
Good job, Christine!