Men tell me not to be afraid of them
But they stare at me when I'm at the store
To buy dahi, my face cold and eyes red
In anger and fear, always puzzled about how they'll react
If I stare back at them;
Men tell me not to be afraid of them
As they make my experience of violence in a consensual encounter
A cold hearted rational debate
About objectivity and false rape cases
They celebrate their win as I weep at home;
Men tell me not to be afraid of them
But I look left and right in dark alleys and walk with hastened steps
My worst nightmare is three guys on a bike
Even two, and when I go out I want to be ugly
But men tell me to be beautiful
And they tell me not to be afraid of them.