Who do I vote for?

Election fever has gripped the nation. Even personal meetings are sprinkled with queries like "Who will you vote for?" I gave it a thought that dug out some incidents from the past. 

2005, Chennai

Three of us girls, were stalked by a man on bicycle while we were walking from our paying guest accommodation to Liberty bus stop in Kodambakkam. Though we ignored him initially, his vulgar comments and gestures prompted us to complain to a traffic cop at the junction. The cop studied us even as we were explain with a sense of urgency for him to act as that guy was still a few metres ahead of us. After a while, he told us:"He is alone and you are three girls. Why didn't you beat him up, catch him and bring him to me? I would have taken care of the rest."!!!

2006, Chennai

A sultry afternoon and an overcrowded transport bus. I'm on way to work. As I was struggling to get some fresh air over the head of many who were standing packed, I felt something weird. First I thought it was a casual touch by someone who was struggling to get a grip. In a split second, I realized the creepy hand exploring my waist was not at all going its way unintentionally! I turned back and saw the owner-of-the-hand guy looking the opposite direction as if he didn't know anything. A well-dressed guy with an executive bag! I was seething and let it out with a punch on his nose and eye together, shouting at him. Hearing the commotion, conductor just peeped and told others who craned their necks that one woman is making noise for 'something'! I looked around, not even a single soul even gave me a look of support. Thankfully, that creepo was a coward and got off at the next stop. He could have done anything in retaliation in front of such a passive crowd and even passive conductor. Finally I broke down when someone offered me a seat, not a kind word. We talk so much about safety for women at night; what about day?

2007 Bangalore

Bus ride from my paying guest accommodation to office was a short one and all I used to depend on BMTC buses. The fare was Rs 5 then. They would give back Rs 2 and gesture it's okay and wouldn't give the ticket. All hell broke loose whenever I demanded a ticket and he got to know I'm not a Kannadiga. It continued to 2008, 2009 and even till now whenever I take a short distance ride on a BMTC bus. 

2009  Thiruvananthapuram

My father was admitted to hospital for a gangrenous infection that threatened to be fatal. He had already undergone three surgeries in a private hospital and we were advised to shift him to a government hospital where a popular surgeon was working, who was known to have a magical hand to cure. We shifted him there. Then comes the news. For the surgeon to see any patient, the patient's relative should visit him at home with the amount he decides, the minimum of which was Rs 2,000. Since my father's condition was critical, he demanded Rs 5,000. I was irked no end. The part of brain demanding my rights as a citizen suddenly became active. All I wanted was to trap him red-handed and take him to court. I discussed it with my mother. She listened and said: "What will happen to your father? You want to expose that doctor at the cost of his life?" I was muted. For I knew the pain he was going through with his left hand almost eaten away by gangrene. At the private hospital, the surgeon had shown me his arm - a bone in the middle and yellow and red surrounding it... almost from elbow till palm. I was reduced to just a daughter, not a citizen. 

2010 Bangalore

I had to get some documents notarized. Clueless about the whole process, with none to help, I stepped into Mayo Hall when a person who was dressed like a lawyer came and offered help. Totally unaware of the things happening there, I gladly took up his offer of notarizing my two documents for the 'standard' rate of Rs 300. Much later when I was more aware and had to get something done, I got 30 papers notarized for the same amount I paid for two papers!

2014 Bangalore

I got an electricity bill that was more than double my usual amount. I rushed to the jurisdictional Bescom office where they sent me from one table to another with none at the table even sparing me a look. Finally when I ended up at the same table three times, the woman engineer there spat out a query with utter disdain. Her anger was so visible as she had to take her attention off the sarees displayed in front of her by a salesman to a face requesting help by making her work! After being there for at least half an hour detailing about it, she gave me an illogical deduction and shouted at me for explaining further. 

These are what a common man faces in daily life. May be much more like this. For them, international relations or promising protection to certain communities don't matter. I will vote for the person or party who can offer me days without any of these. Where government servants don't become people's bosses!