| It was evening, and mom had asked me to get some medicines from the Store. The market is just two streets away from my house. I took the money and was walking with a normal pace. My clothes were just plain and simple. Attire which most girls my age have- three-fourths, and a simple half sleeved tee shirt. But I guess I shouldn’t have let me hair fall loose on my shoulders. That’s where I made a mistake. My fringe fell on my forehead, and the rest of my hair, being very light, moved in the direction of the wind. I was walking on a road which had good traffic, quite a good number of “adults” and bright evening light. As I reached the medical store, I showed the shop keeper the prescription. He was busy getting me the pills. I was standing idle, observing various posters in the store. I was lost, another mistake! I was busy reading the posters when something touched my legs. Coming back to my senses, I realized it was a boy’s bag. I moved aside and asked the shop keeper to make it fast. He looked at me, then at the boy, and continued delaying the work. I started looking away, even moved aside. The boy followed my movement, tried to brush against me. When it was enough, I frowned and screamed at the shopkeeper, “Look, if you’re giving me the medicines right now, then fine. Or else, forget about it.” He hurried towards the counter, made the bill and kept his eyes down. My frown was still there. He, then, asked that boy what he wanted. The guy, being the ultimate asshole, replied, “Some flavoured condoms please!” I was disgusted. I threw the money over the counter, didn’t even bother for the change and walked off. The guy then shouted, “I was joking!” and I heard a loud cheap laugh. From that day onwards, I made it a point to wear full pants, tie my hair tightly and if possible, look my worst, when I go to that market. Even today, my eyes are always looking at my feet as I walk through that market, even though there’s always a Police jeep parked there, and even though the market is in a residential area! |
Why do we crave bookshops when life falls apart? A deep reading of Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop
This article reflects on Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum, a gentle novel about burnout, healing, and second chances. Through Yeong-ju and her quiet community, the book reminds you that meaning often returns slowly, through books, people, and ordinary days that begin to feel like home again. Why do so many of us secretly dream of walking away from everything? At some point, usually on a crowded weekday morning or during yet another meeting that could have been an email, you wonder if this is all there is. You did what you were told. You studied, worked hard, built a career, stayed responsible. And yet, instead of contentment, there is exhaustion. Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop begins exactly at this uncomfortable truth. Hwang Bo-reum’s novel does not shout its intentions. It does not promise transformation through grand revelations. Instead, it sits beside you quietly and asks a gentler question. What if the problem is not that you failed, but that you nev...
Comments
they are the most insensitive creatures around, they are someone who cannot even come close to
imagining, leave alone feeling how this behaviour of theirs affects us. When they say its not eve teasing, they are making themselves believe there is nothing wrong about what they are doing, and since there is such an unimaginably vast clan of theirs, they are quite successful at it.
Whos the bigger fool? Them.
Whos the losing party? Us.
Just wanna say that i really appreciate the way you wrote abt it, but don't feel guilty like that.
Right, our mommies always tell us to ignore sumthing like this, thats the best way, and also the easiest perhaps.
But don't look your worst dear when you pass through that market. It'll do nothing than inflating that male ego.
True, the scars such incidents leave hurt, but covering them up only makes them deeper...
i totally understnd how u feel..
i was under mental trauma myself!!..
but then tht wont help..
if we think abt it more.. the more we make them rejoice off thr work.. so we shud the stop thinkin abt such cheapsters n try to concentrate on better things...
These things r definitely not easy to forget but we cn giv it a try!!!...
thts wen it wud b our VICTORY over these losers!!
x0x0x!!
There are so many times when such things happen.
Men are bastards,this is what they guys love to do.
You cannot do this to urslf..
You dont have to look your worst..
Even i use to feel the same,bt thr was a aunt f mine who told me once that these loosers stare at us coz we have got something in us coz if v didn't then they wouldn't hv done so..
See all pretty things attrct us,same wd thm.
You're pretty flaunt it. But be sure,your looks are a part f u let the world see you bt dont lt it touch it..
Don't let these assholes win over your confidence and self esteem!!
this situation may come in your life again and gain but the only things is you should learn how to tackle such situations. next time better don't run from the situation and try to tackle it!
thanks for your feedback. the thing is that this incident happened last year. true.. these people are losers. i do not pay heed to them anymore. i don't look my worst whenever i go to that market. but yeah.. while writing it down again i penned down whatever i had felt that day. that's it!
(:
i have learnt to tackle them (: