Cab ride

It was that day of our friend's wedding. I along with three of my friends where going to attend it after our office. I booked a cab from my office to the wedding venue. It was supposed to be a fun ride but it resulted in a nightmare.

We boarded the cab and I realised that the driver was really glad to see young women in the cab. He was looking at each one of us. My instinct were telling me to stay careful. I started speaking in my authoritative voice. I believed it was sufficient for him to know that he also needed to be careful.

While I had sensed the danger my friends were completely carefree. Sitting in the back seat they had started singing. They had been singing really loudly. Unfortunately because of their behaviour the cab driver was getting entertained. I had kept my guard up and I kept on asking him that how much time would it take to reach there or if he can see traffic in the map. I was asking him they the questions so that I can show him that I am incharge. Also while he was speaking with me he was speaking politely and responsibly. It almost felt to me that he had understood the level of authority.

We had reached the destination and we left the cab. After we had met our friend and while we were having meal I spoke with my friends. I made them aware of what had been happening in the cab. I told them to behave themselves and not act so carefree while we are travelling. Two of my friends completely understood my concern and they agreed that the behaviour was not appropriate. They told me that they had understood the danger and while our way back they would not repeat the same mistake. My friend Ruhi had completely different opinion.

Ruhi said, "you are unnecessarily worried. The fear that you are expressing is completely not required. Things like this happen in the films not in the real life".

I was shocked to hear how out of touch Ruhi was. I said to Ruhi, "I am not telling you any story from a movie. I am telling you what happened just a couple of minutes ago. It is not my imagination but what really happened today. I just require all of you to not sing the songs and show that you are carefree".

Ruhi was still not agreeeing. She said, " do not try to take away my freedom. You have no authority to control my life. I will do whatever I want to do". She was fuming.

By this time I was not only upset but disappointed in Ruhi's approach, " I am not taking anything away from you. I am worried that 4 of us girls are travelling and we need to be careful. This is for our safety. Do not jeopardize it".

Ruhi was still not agreeing. She called me controlling. This is when I simply told her, " if you do not care about your our safety feel free to travel alone".

That evening Ruhi booked a separate cab for herself. Our friendship with Ruhi ended. I did not want to risk my safety for her sense of freedom.