A few years ago while travelling in a sleeper class(the cheapest seats) on a long route train I met two British women hitch-hiking across India. Needless to say

A few years ago while travelling in a sleeper class(the cheapest seats) on a long route train I met two British women hitch-hiking across India. Needless to say I was horrified and scared for them and gave the customary warnings I give to my sisters. They replied that they have already been told the same things before. One of them asked me, "How does the common citizen view them?" Thinking that they were not scared enough travelling across India, I replied, "Like animals in a zoo. They want to touch you. Some will admire and some will harass". A few minutes later, a young village woman sitting on the floor(probably without ticket) with a child in her arms asked me in Hindi to tell the British women, "They look very pretty". I did. In response I was requested to pass the same message back to the young woman(which I did not, her husband was already on to me). I continued my rant about how dangerous India is for woman to instill some fear in those poor devils. I am not sure I was successful.