Stand And Stare, by Paritosh Chandra Dugar

It was an overcrowded public transport vehicle. The third stop. I see a lady holding an infant tight to her chest and struggling to balance herself amidst the crowd. I volunteer to vacate my seat for the desperate mother. In response, she immediately pulls her first son from behind his father and occupies the seat with him. The sixth stop. The seat next to mine (oh!, sorry, the lady’s) is vacated. I make a move. But smartly enough, she pulls her husband from behind me leaving me only to stand and stare.