No is a No: Pink

No is a No: Pink

Dr. Ram Sharma , Associate Prof and Head , Dept of English , J.V.College , Baraut , Baghpat , U.P.

                                                                                                                      Dr. Archana Durgesh

Simone de Beauvoir has rightly remarked, “One is not born, but rather becomes a woman.” (The Second Sex) In a society like ours it’s a crime to be a woman the movie Pink gives in some insight on a sensitive issue of a woman’s safety in man’s world. The movie begins with a jovial conversation running behind the star cast, but when the scene opens it has young men in big trouble as one of their friend is bleeding profusely. In a scene parallel there are three girls who are driven towards their house to safety. It’s in the middle of the night that this all is taking place. One of the girl Falak expresses her disgust, “kab se keh rahi the chalte  hai chalte hai.” The boy is gravely injured on the skull and there are glass shreds in his eyes. One is left to think what all happened did I missed something.

Rajveer the man in question is the man with links due to his political background. It’s worth mentioning this here because in a country like ours “links” is all that matters. The girls miraculously fall into the daily routine after the ordeal. But somewhere they are apprehensive about the ‘happening.’ In the sequence of events their landlord is contacted by Ankit Rajveer’s friend, first asking him to throw them out as they are, “vaisi type.” Instead of getting influenced he spoke to the girls straight and inquired, if they were safe or if they have landed in any kind of trouble? But they avoided the whole issue. But on his way back he had a planned minor accident and was warned, “bahar kardo un tino ladkiyon ko, acchi nahi hai wo. Rate ka dispute ho gaya tha mere doston ke saath, ek ne to almost mere dost ko murder hi kar diya tha.” How easily he defined the girl’s character as if he was speaking about a tasteless dish on menu.

Falak in a state of frenzy is narrowly saved by her neighbor (Mr. Amitabh Bachchan) he advises her, “you should be careful.” She goes to her boyfriend Javed’s place an elderly professor for solace but after knowing her plight he retorts, “I don’t believe this Falak…aap ne kuch nahi socha… socha hota to yun nahi jati unke saath akele kamre mein ,itna  kya enjoyment, Meenal ka to samajh mein aata hai, lekin….” He commits the same mistake unlike any other man he starts giving his opinion instead of doing a simple thing like holding her. Meenal is flamboyant and outgoing girl this is what makes her a woman of easy virtue and not worth discussion. Her friend Meenal is a free spirited girl which makes her an easy target for jibes and of course the tag ‘characterless’ a term any man uses for any woman so easily. Sometimes I really wonder if they actually know its meaning.

Rajveer instead of worrying about his injury is more worried about getting his dirty hands on Meenal and his friends instead of helping him realize his mistake his friends are more in getting him the girl who injured his ego more than his skull and eye. Another friend Mishaw though talked sense but everyone else challenged his manhood. They call up Meenal then and there telling her that she will have to pay for what she has done to Rajveer, “Start to tune hi kiya tha koi utha ke nahi laya tha tujhe, khud chalke ke aayi thin wahan tayyaar ho ke... Ab tera kaand ho ga maaze liye jaenge tere.” But to Ankit’s utter surprise she retorts, “phone pe kya dhamki de raha hai samne aa mere dekhti hoon main.”  They feel fueled and decide that they will make her pay their way. Andrea discusses the matter with her friend a young fellow who encourages her that her friends should make a bold move saying, “jab galti nahi hai to bhago mat, maafi mut mango.” He even advises them to make a police complaint which they should have made long back. Andrea received a video which makes her realize that they are being stalked. Later by their landlord, and her fellow performer Meenal is advised to make a police complaint. But the policeman instead of supporting her starts explaining her the pros and cons of making a police complaint, he further adds, “nashe mein thi madam…dhamki ka kya hai free ki cheez hai dene do…uss raat aap ko kuch nahi hua…ab na aap pe bahut gussa aaraha hai ji aap ke jaisi ‘achchi ladki’ aise ladkon ke saath jati hai ki kya…karte aap sab ho aur baad mein wo binde wali fauj toot padti hai humpe…ki aap safe nahi ho…decide karlo…phir to hum hai hi.” Though these girls mange to get a lot of help but there are the connections the miscreants have which she realizes later she shouldn’t have taken lightly.

Falak meets Mishaw who tries to convince her to ask Meenal to apologize he somewhere offends her by saying, “janti nahi ho tum well connected hai wo, tum  ladkiyaan ho… Baat badhegi to badnami kiski hogi?”  As if being a girl is a big crime and izzat to sirf ladkiyon ki hoti hai; men have nothing to do with honor. He convinces her for a compromise by saying sorry. Now the scene is almost clear Rajveer just wants an apology to satisfy his false manly ego. Even if the girls have not done anything wrong and he knows that they don’t have to feel sorry. It’s he who should be sorry.

Girls get into the debate of apologizing or to go along with the police complaint. Falak tries to explain the reason they all are there in Delhi away from their families is to make an earning and lead a “normal life” instead of getting into the vicious cycle of police complaint. Andrea is even apprehensive. Mishaw tries to convince Rajveer to accept the girls’ apology and let the matter rest but Ankit adds fuel to Rajveer’s temper saying, “beginning acchi hai end aur achcha hoga…main to bus traditions follow kar raha hoon  yaar bandiyon ki jo aukaat hai wo unhe batati rehna chahiye.”  On receiving Falak’s call Rajveer asks her to call Meenal on the line and apologize but his abusive language leads Falak to lose her temper and retort, “…mujhe tumse problem hai , tumhari language se, tumhare dimaag me bhare kude se, tumhe kya lagta hai hum tumse darr gaye hai iis liye tumhe phone kar rahe hai, Meenal ko tumhari ek nahi dono aakhen phod deni chahiye thi…. It is the next day at office that Falak realizes the heights of their contacts and lowness of their deeds when her immediate boss shows her a web page displaying her photo with a placard with her contact number and a statement-‘call me for happiness, I will satisfy you.’ Falak had to quit from her job though she has a lot of responsibilities back home with dependent parents and a specially challenged brother; whose treatment is lot expensive. Next morning Meenal is kidnapped advocate Sehgal is the eye witness he contacts the police but it is of no help. Meenal is crying out of fear and Ankit reminds that she has invited them herself, “aaja aaja karke.”  Meenal begs them to leave her and she will forget all this ever happened but they said, “we want you to remember this, tujhe pata hona chahiye tune kya kiya hai…” They molest her in the moving car and warn her, “kissi se kuch boliyo mut, ye sirf intro tha….” It’s too much for woman to endure let be a strong girl like Meenal. They are left with no other option but to leave the town.  Though police gets a complaint of molestation against the boys but next day police reaches the girls’ doorstep to arrest Meenal. It’s from here that the movie takes a turn.

The girls are flabbergasted when they come to know that a warrant has been issued against Meenal on the grounds of attempt to murder IPC 307. And they even add that they have been searching for her for the last seven days just to prove that she has been absconding because she was guilty. They keep on saying that it was they who made the complaint. It creates quite a public spectacle, someone from the crowd remarks, “yahi hoga jab ladkiyan akeli rahengi.” The SHO irrespective is a woman under political influence defends the boy and tells her father, “pesha karti hai wo pata hai ki nahi aapko.” Though her friends try to defend her, but to no avail. Deepak Sehgal who has been a successful lawyer knows at once where it’s leading to. He drops in to know what charges have they put; he reads out Section 320 with 324 causing serious injury, 307 attempt to murder, attempt to extort, and prostitution. They chose Friday to get her arrested so that she can’t manage a bail. But he tells them a way out; a session’s judge can be contacted for emergency bail and it’s applicable for women and minors. Andrea reads about Deepak Sehgal on internet. Meenal’s condition is pathetic it seems she has lost it completely. Seeing the girls so helpless he decides to help them out. Leaving out the legalities I would like to raise a few questions, how many victims lodge a complaint, how many have the knowledge and above all how many are given justice? Sometimes injustice goes to the extent that the victim is asked to marry the victimizer.

He gets her the bail but warns them that bail is not enough it’s a big fight ahead they have to prepare themselves for the trial. This case attracted a lot of media attention as it’s shown due to involvement of a politically well connected man. During the trial the prosecution opens by saying that in order to overcome repression of women there were many laws made regarding rapes, dowry and molestation, but it seems in this case and like such they are being misused. They met in a rock concert on March 1^st and were invited graciously for dinner. He blames the girls of soliciting and providing sexual services in exchange of money. When Rajveer denied taking any such services and so does his friends she resorted to blackmail and later to physical injury which was entirely “unprovoked” and “vicious” and after attempt to murder they fled from the crime scene.

Defense opened the case with a simple but solid statement that police has no case against them; “it’s a case of vindictive litigation.” “Actually the case should be registered under Section 354; outraging the modesty of a woman…Section 503 to be read with section 506 criminal intimidation…” The men were stalking and threatening them. Then Section 304 wrongful confinement (in the car) by Ankit And Raunak (Dumpy) they with the help of two other men molested her. The SHO out rightly lied in the court blaming Meenal for what she didn’t do. Then the doctor who treated is called to the stand he even told that the injury was fatal. Then is called Mukesh Kuamar the waiter of the resort who spoke in a very low manner about the girls; “…subah hi jaengi aisi ladkiyan…nahi to ye ladkiyan ladko ke kamre mein jati hi kyon aap hi sochiyen na wahan bhi ek ek ladki ek ek ladke ko alag le ja rahi thi.”  Then the manager Rama Kant is called to the stand to tell what were Meenal and Rajveer talking about though he should be clueless due to so many customers still he adds, “wahi baatein jo ladke ladkiyan karte hai.” Prosecution actually prepared a character sketch of Meenal and her friends as girls of promiscuous character and that they are into soliciting. How easy it is for a man to call a woman wanton.

When called to take the stand Meenal pleaded not guilty. When Andrea is called to take the stand the prosecutor asked her from where did she belong (she is a north east girl) and added, “aap court ko batlaiye ki ye kaam aap kab se kar rahi hai?” The judge feeling her discomfort intervened and told her not to answer any question if she didn’t feel like it. Her whereabouts that night are questioned though she simply used Dumpy’s toilet. But her prolonged stay in the room is questionable and so is her closing the door behind her back. Andrea is the first person to be cross questioned by the defense; her belonging to Meghalaya is irrelevant because no one else who taken a stand was asked so she answers, “I feel as a north eastern girl I’m being harassed more than any other average Indian girl on the street.” Her closing the door was instinctive and her prolonged stay is explained by Dumpy’s planned devilish act; he switched off the lights and touched her inappropriately. Thus defense explained Andrea’s acts that night. Defense later talks of A Girl’s Safety Manual; it’s the soul of the case; Rule 1: “kisi bhi ladki ko kisi ke bhi saath akele nahi rehna chahiye, kisi resort ya toilet use karne ke lkiye to bilkul bhi nahi” because it shows their willingness and easy availability.

When Dumpy is called to the stand he accepts his sexual escapade with Andrea, he started overacting. Then Falak is called to the stand and in the similar way prosecution accused her of soliciting because of her financially weak background even her affair with the professor is portrayed as entirely professional and sexual.  Then Rajveer is called to the stand, in a very weird manner defense counsel asked to take his hands out of his pocket but later we realize he wanted to irritate him and actually prove to the court how insolent he could get. Prosecution asked him, “aap ko shaque nahi hua jab ye ladkiyaan itna ghul mil  kar baat kar rahi thi?” he answered, “…ladkiyaan todhi friendly si hai…jab hints diye…yahi ki chalo alag alag chalet hai…paiso ke badle mein hum inke saath enjoy kar sakte hai…I went with the flow…” But then he added that, ‘ye ladkiyan galat hai…mujhe iske saath kuch nahi karna…aapko paise dene padenge varna main chillaungi ki aap mera rape karne ki ki koshish kar rahe hai. (Meenal)…jo iske haath mein bottle thi use isne mujhpe attack kiya.” This whole fictitious episode is completely enthralling as the level to which this man stoops down is commendable. How many times without realizing men and women talk about somebody in a lowly manner? Without any knowledge and proof they portray a vicious and malign image of an innocent soul. When cross questioned he told, “bahut zyada frank ho rahi thi, smile vile de rahi thi touch kar rahi thi haath se baat karte waqt.’  Defense counsel says so that makes the Rule 2 of the manual: “kisi bhi ladki ko kisi bhi ladke ke saath hus hus ke usse touch karke baat nahi karni chaihiye kyonki wo usse hint samajh lega; haansi ko haan…uske chalu hone ka sabot ho sakta hai….” Does frank and outgoing person should be perceived as characterless or available? But ironically enough they are.

The girls’ neighbors came forward to testify against them to prove them promiscuous but they are dealt beautifully, “nahi mein magar ki gunjayash hai hi nahi…humare yahan ghadi ki sui character decide karti hai” the girls were never seen in indulging anything immoral but it’s our tendency to look down upon the girls with male friends, leave out the ones having boyfriends. Late nights for girls is a big no even if they are working and for boys its always ok even if they are molesting an innocent girl.

Meenal is asked if she has her own house in Delhi which she had so basically her living independently without her parents even puts a question mark on her character; “wo kaam aap vahan nahi kar sakti jo aap yahan karti hai…” It is later revealed that the girls knew one of the men Mishaw so basically they were not unknown to each other and girls had reason fair enough to trust them and feel “safe”. When asked why she hit him she narrated the whole incident, “Sir he grabbed me, chhodh hi nahi raha tha I don’t know what came over me can’t really explain but sir ek badi gandi feeling hoti hai jab koi iss tarike se choota hai…kisko achcha lagta hai ki koi chuye aise zabardasti….” Is there no difference at all between a civilized man and a street dog whose driven by animal desire?

The prosecution when given a chance to cross question Meenal and tells her that her going with them was a calculated move… “harmful nahi lage…seedhe type ke decent ladke…they might be interested, ye aap se dab jaenge aur paisa extort karna mein koi dikkat nahi aaegi…drinks kyon karne lag gai aap?...Rajveer ke liye khud inhone drink banaya taiyari room ke ander jane ke saath hi shuru ho gai hi…ek sexual act ka description de rahi thi…she was narrating a joke, what was the joke?...” Meenal totally feels uncomfortable, “I can’t say, private mein aur public mein joke sunane mein farak hota hai…” if her joke can’t be told publically then its gainsaid her accepting that she is characterless is out of question said the prosecutor. Her statement is too moving that he had held her and, “…agar ye dobara karega to dobara keech ke bottle marungi iske siir pe maarungi…sir maine nahi maange paise, maine koi paise nahi liye….” The hurt the pain is evident in her words as well as in her outstanding performance.

There is a wonderful twist when the SHO Sarala Prem Chand is called, she is addressed as a super woman later its explained; she reported Meenal was absconding but she was found in her own house, then she had written the report while at the time she wrote the report she was attending a marriage 10 kms away she came in just 10 mins to write the report which actually took 42 mins …. “ghatna itni badi thi aap goli ki speed se aayi, aur report aapne sirf do line mein likhi.” Though she wrote longer reports even it was proved as the same page contained report of a lost mobile. Actually she wrote the report in the space available in the back date. It’s the only entry she wrote in such an economic manner. It proved it was an afterthought; after Meenal reported the matter to the police. This is a hilarious part of this serious movie. And a big question mark on our system where this happens each and every day.

To wind up the case defense counsel raised a very weird question to Meenal, “Are you a virgin?” Even the judge felt if it was irrelevant but it was the most relevant question which brought the case to its denouement. She is given a option to answer in camera but she says, “maine kuch galat nahi kiya main open court mein answer karungi.” She tells that she lost her virginity at the age of 19 to her boyfriend Manish. She is asked if she was paid for it. She answered, “nahi hum ek dusre ko pasand karte the, we were attracted to each other so pay karne ka sawaal hi paida nahi hota.” The counsel said, “So he didn’t pay you. Did he force you?” she answered, “No he didn’t force me, he didn’t pay me we liked each other we did it because we wanted to.” She is further asked if she was sexually involved with any other person. She accepted she was. So the defense asked if it had happened many a times what if she had done it with Rajveer even was it a big deal? “Kya matlab,” “matlab ye ki pehli march ko Rajveer aur uske saathiyon ne bhi yahi socha hoga ki ye ek fairly promiscuous ladki hain aur agar ek baar aur ye ho jata hai to kya farak padta hai? Main samajh sakta hoon ki wo itne matured nahi the ki wo iss baat ko soch sake ki jab aapke saath pehle hua to aap ki marzi ke saath hua bina paise liye hua aur bina kisi dabaab ke hua, but the prosecution has proved that you are woman of questionable character…uss waqt aapne kya indication diya ki main abhi sex mein interested nahi hoon?” “Maine usko mana kiya tha...maine usko push kiya tha, bola leave me, don’t do this…I SAID NO NO, I SAID NO, I SAID NO NO.”

Meenal said no still this man touched her inappropriately, he humiliated her, she was just a bit drunk, a bit friendly, a bit smartly but appropriately dressed up was it a crime but it does makes Rule 4: “kisi ladki ko kisi ladke ke saath sharab nahi peeni chahiye kyon ki agar wo aisa karti hai toladke ko ye indicate hota  hai ki agar wo mere saath sharab pi sakti hai to uske saath sone se bhi katraie gi nahi.” Alcohol in our culture indicates low character for girls but it’s just a health hazard for boys. “…aaj tak hum sab ek galat direction mein effort karte rahe hai we should save our boys not our girls because if we save our boys then our girls will be safe, sheher mein ladkiyon ko alag nahi rehna chahiye…independent ladkiyaan ladko ko confuse kar deti hai, ladkiyon ko hus ke baat nahi karni chahiye…ladkiyon ko mobile mut dijiy eunka education mut kijiye…unki shaadi jaldi kardijiye etcetera etcetera etcetera.” Instead of telling our girls what to do and what not to do we should put in some efforts in teaching our boys some etiquettes and inculcate in them a feeling of respecting women.

In the movie her drunken state could have been perhaps the reason for her intense action but, “baar baar ek ladki ko inappropriately chuna,ek ladki kya karegi aise mauke pe, what do you expect her to do? Apne self defense mein ek kadam uthana not causing grievous injury or attempt to murder…not that at all.” But prosecution raised another question why didn’t Falak overreact? She is called on the stand and incessantly asked about her relationship with Prof. Javed their mutual fund transfers and even that why she demanded money? She loses her temper and patience and retorts that yes, she and Andrea demanded money but Meenal was not party to it, still Rajveer tried to outrage her modesty and touched her inappropriately. Thus, bringing an end to the whole money demanding business and giving prosecutor a run for his life. “aap hi baitaiye Sir by law by law bataiye Sir ki wo sahi tha ya yeh? The man Falak stood by along with his daughter left her when she needed him the most.

When Rajveer is questioned by the defense that how could he gather that Meenal was ready to get in bed with him he gave all the vile excuses he could to which the defense answered, “venue decide karta hai character aap ke liye.” “…in logon ki tarah mera bhi koi character nahi hai, yehi prove karna chahte hai aap?” “Ye prove karne ki zarurat nahi hai.par aap itna irritate kyon ho rahe hai….baar baar wahi baat kyon repeat kar rahe ho TUM.” Thus defense succeeded in irritating Rajveer and bringing out his true colors. He is asked him to admit that he randomly picks beautiful girls and invites them for dinner and drinks. He asks him, “kya aap ke ghar mein ladkiyan sharaab peeti hai…acche ghar ki aurtein sharab nahi peeti hai…family gatherings mein jati hai parties mein nahi.” So it’s proved that girls who drink and party are easily available and become, “his pushtaini haque.” Though ironically Rajveer’s sister is shown drinking and partying in a pic from a social networking site; he loses his cool, “baith ke peena aur kisi ke saath bhi chale jana ye aisi ladkiyan karti hai achche gharane ki ladkiyan nahi, in jaisi ladkiyon ke saath na aisa hi hota hai…aaram se aajae aur piye to koi bhi ladka yahi samhje ga na ki ye ladkiyaan tayaar hai, varna kyon aaengi, kyon piyengi….kya balatkaar yahan kisi se bhi pooch lo aisi ladkiyon ke saath aisa hi hota hai…asisi ladkiyon ko malum hai kis naam se bulaya jata hai raand.” This is what exactly that happened he took the girls too lightly and assessed them to be of promiscuous character.  And over this his male ego got hurt when he heard no for an answer that no was hard to digest especially coming from girls he thought them to be.

The women in today’s time go out for dinner and drinks but that doesn’t makes them available as some men who are still marred by feudal mentality may take them for women of easy virtue. Their outgoing attitude is not a welcome signboard yelling out a loud that I’m easily available for you. Prosecution’s persistence on the argument that the girls went with the boys to extort money there is simply no question of consent. But there is something Deepak Sehgal said which shook every viewer, “No, No your Honor, na sirf ek shabd nahi hai apne aap mein pura ek vaikya hai kisi tark spashtikaran, explaination yavyakya ki zaurat nahi hai na ka matlab na hi hota hai. My client said No your honor and these boys must realize ki no ka matlab no hota hai usse bolne wali ladki koi parichit ho, friend ho, girlfriend ho, koi sex worker hoya aap ki apni biwi hi kyon na ho. No means no and when someone says so you stop.” Does a woman’s no means nothing to a man or is he ignorant to her feelings, or does he think mood bun jaega is it that easy? Is she a human or a power switch that you can switch her on and off at your whims and fancies. Sex should always be consensual irrespective who she is. In a relationship respect should come before love.

This movie has made a beginning it has touched a sensitive issue. My topic was no is a no I had to cross such a long way to say what I intent to say. It’s my choice you can’t force me. I may be smart outgoing and bold but that doesn’t make me promiscuous and available. It has been aptly said, ‘When men are oppressed, it’s a tragedy. When women are oppressed, it’s a tradition.’