Seashells

#MeToo is one of those campaigns that I witnessed unfold, bloom, and fade off. Although I heard about it and read quite a lot about it, I did not get the chance to hang around with someone who was accused of or was a victim of it. My ex-boss would always corner girls, call them mean things, and then say, 'Please do not add me to the #MeToo campaign haan!?' Only recently did I get the privilege to be around someone who was called out for molesting girls.   One of my bosses made headlines during this scandal as news about his pursuits came to light and oh, the media loved every bit of it. Apparently, he was thrown out of the prestigious organization he worked for and is now working with a small-time firm as compared to his previous stint. After spending a substantial amount of time around him, I sat myself down and wondered how does this work?  I was around this person for over 5 days in a different city and he did not seem weird. He treated us like kids, was around all th...

Away from home, strangers become friends. Colleagues become confidants. The first face you see when you get up, the only people who pass your towel when in the shower.  Away from home, you have a new found courage. An alien environment pushes you to explore places and people. You fine dine, crush and roll, eat a cookie or two, exchange glances, run errands, discover unexplored spots with people unknown.  Sharing a smoke, stolen hugs, and kisses in nooks and corners keep you going.  Girls and boys become partners, lovers. You promise to meet before you fly back to your respective cities, your respective partners. You smile, you share a secret or two, you gleam, you walk away.  Away from home, promises weaken, boundaries blurrr.  Crossing the line seldom counts as a crime.