The spooked women of the graveyard shift give life-saving advice for your late-night commutes

Keep those windows open, and phone lines busy.

Sarwat Fatima Sarwat Fatima
फरवरी 03, 2017
At night, roads in India become playground for men who turn into predators. Photo: Shutterstcok/ IndiaPicture

In January 2016, Pragya*, after wrapping up her late-night shift was returning back home in an office cab. She frequently worked the graveyard shift-without any incident-and wasn't very concerned about the route the office driver was taking.

Pragya was the last employee to be dropped home, something that didn't happen too often. Randomly, she glanced out of the window only to notice that the driver had taken a detour.

She found herself in the middle of nowhere. Shocked she asked the driver where they were, to which he casually replied, "Madam, short cut hai."

Sensing something wrong, she firmly told the driver to go back on the main road. However, he kept on driving without paying much heed to her.

Pragya began panicking and quickly dialed her mom. She told her parents what was happening loudly so that the driver could listen.

Maybe he realized someone else was aware of his whereabouts, so he quickly drove back to the main road.

Nonetheless, Pragya recalls that night the worst night of her life, while thanking her lucky stars that nothing major happened.

***

Women, who work late night or graveyard shifts, might understand how terrifying it is-traversing empty road with strange drivers.  

At night, roads in India become playground for men who turn into predators, using darkness to cloak their misdeeds. But this is not surprising-if anything it's been the unsaid law of the land for as long as we remember.

Let's be honest: we all know what a risk it is to venture out all alone at night. And if given a choice, most women would refrain from doing so, especially now that women's safety has just become a joke.

Also read: In a society that promotes rape culture, 7 women share their worst fears

But, if working late nights is a professional obligation-there's not much you can do.  

Thousands of women in India, compromise their safety for the sake of a livelihood when they agree to late-night shifts.

***

In 2012, Nirbhaya gang-rape jolted everyone. Soon after, The BPO and IT industry tightened its security measures for the benefit of its female employees.

Companies did a strict and thorough background check of drivers and security guards, who accompanied women employees home.

However, five years later, women in India still don't feel safe stepping out at night. And constant reports of molestation and rapes make it all the more difficult for them to put their worries to rest.

Not leaving their safety solely in the hands of the management and police, women insist on devising their own security measures.

We asked seven women on graveyard shifts about the precautions they take to keep themselves safe and secure.

This is what they have to say:

Tip 1: Always Insist On a Guard To Accompany You
"Most companies provide a security guard if there are women employees to be dropped late at night. However, there are days when there are no guards and the drivers coax the women to hop in. Never do that--even if you trust the driver," says Shweta, a former BPO employee.

Remember: Nothing is more important than your safety. So even if you have to makes a few calls to the admin, or your boss, in the middle of night-do so. Let the authorities know that there is no guard available and you are not budging unless some alternative arrangements are made.

Tip 2: Don't Walk To The Cab, Let It Come To You
Pinky works in a media company in Noida. And she has no choice but to stay late in office at times thanks to the nature of job. She admits that the city isn't a very safe place at night.

"Last year, a girl was abducted while she was walking to her cab. The area where I work gets desolated at night and it's very risky walking the streets on your own," says Pinky.

Don't walk the streets alone at night. Photo courtesy: cynephile.com Don't walk the streets alone at night. Photo courtesy: cynephile.com

"At night, there's a lot of mismanagement on the part of the fleet. At times, the designated cab is parked at a distance from the office.

However, I make sure that I inform the guards and call the driver and ask him to bring the can to the front gate, rather than walking alone."

Tip 3: Be On The Phone Most of Your Time

It's best to inform your near and dear ones of your whereabouts continually. So that they know what's happening while you are commuting.

"I always call my parents or a friend before leaving office. Also, I make sure that the driver is listening. It helps if he knows that someone else knows what is going on. So, I am on my phone for most of the time on my way back. I think it helps," says Tanushree.

Tip 4: Note The Cab Number And Message It To Someone

"Before I leave office, I always make it a point to click a picture of the license plate and send it to my friends and family. Apart from this, I make a fake call in front of the driver, pretending that I am telling someone the license number. I also send my location through WhatsApp to my husband. Every woman should do this," advises Megha.


Tip 5: Ask To Be Dropped First
In case your company doesn't provide a security guard to tag along, there's another way to ensure your safety.

"There's an unsaid protocol. If there are no guards in the cab, but there is a male employee with you, insist on getting dropped first. It's never a good idea being left alone in the car," says Samrudhi.

Tip 6:  If You're Alone in the Cab, Always Sit in the Middle
It's not always possible to have company while commuting later at night. In which case, presence of mind can actually prevent unsavoury circumstances from taking place.  

"Whether I am travelling in the office cab alone, or take an Uber late in the evening-I always sit in the middle of the backseat so that I have easy access to the hand brake," suggests Perizaad.

Tip 7: Keeping the Windows Open Can Save Your Life
One fine June night, Rajni* was taking the office cab home when the driver decided to take an unfamiliar road.

"I am pretty familiar with the streets of my city. So when the driver took a detour that was no way in hell going to where I live, I knew what was on his mind," says the call-centre employee.  

"I get motion sick when the windows of a moving vehicle are rolled up, so insist that they're rolled down no matter the temperature outside. And that's exactly what saved my life. When I asked the driver where he was going and got no answer in return, I peered outside the window and started screaming for help. Thankfully, a couple taking a late-night stroll saw me coming from a distance and stopped the cab midway. I quickly hopped out and called the police, though the cab drove away," she narrates.

***

It's not easy being a woman in India. And it's definitely not easy commuting late at night. But we can't hide at home or let our career suffer because men can't keep it in their pants can we? So here's hoping that you traverse safely, and if need be can trump bad intentions with these tips.

Also read: Sitting at home is not an option. It's only when women take over the streets, will men learn a lesson

 

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