LADIES' SEAT

LADiES - SEAT

The Calcutta Univ . girl about 21 yrs age, Smart and of Ballygunje area, - was returning in 2 B bus after winng a debate on " Women's -Lib". she was returning home . it was about 4- 30 and the bus was getting crowded . A middle aged man was feeling weak and asked the girl --'pl. May I ....' ------. He coud not finish. Sharp came the response ---' this is ladies' seat'. The elderly man fumbled " if you dn't mind --- "

" get ahead , I told you already --this is Ladies' seat ".. the gentle man could not match the Enlish of the young girl stepped ahead in surrender..
-----------The girl was now looking out smiling and enjoying her own success in debate and also this piece of her smart challenge.
The girl , Rina reached her home by about 5-15 . had a shower became freh and relaxed and was sitting by the window facing the gate with sound of noisiy traffic on the main road. For a long time she went through her memory lane, scanning the events of her performances, more than once and was feeing good proud and happy.
---
.Time roolled by ---it was already 6-30 now but her father was late in returning and yet no sign ., she went in and came out with anoyher half cup of tea and heard a knock on the door. She rushed and opened the door complaining - "you are so late---" -could not finish and saw her father with a bandage , covering his fore-head.
"what happened --how---" - she anmost--
'Nothing musch don't panic ; and there are so smart girls pretending educated these days! i pleaded to sit on the vacant seat next to her but she, of your age ,retorted -" Cant --see ,this is Ladies seat""
I replied -I am almost your father's age" --and culd not finish when she told me sharp --"get ahead ' and -I--'
" oh what is happening to You ! yYu look so ----" -------The father did not know what was happening to her !!
(The story was written in 1963 , in bengali)