By and large, Pune's Safe to have fun

In the concluding part of our series on women living on their own in the city, MiD DAY looks at how nightspots treat an unaccompanied woman

A Lot of students come to the city for higher studies and many can be spotted at nightspots in the city.
The same is true of young professionals who come to work in the city. A large number of women form a
part of this partying, dining-out crowd. How do women who want to go out alone fare in all this?

The city has for long enjoyed a reputation for being safe for women compared to other places in the country, and spotting single women at a restaurant or a bar after dark is not a strange sight here.

But after the recent rapes and murders that shook the city, that reputation has taken a bit of a beating. So MiD DAY decided to find out how easy or difficult life is for a lone woman in the city. Today, we take a look at what a single woman encounters on a night out.

We checked out four partying and dining-out spots in the city by sending a reporter and a photographer to these places with a student, Sonia Rodrigues, at night.

Here's what we found, in Sonia's own words.

Place: Loop, Gultekdi

Time: 1 am

The bouncers checked my bag first and then let me in. I went upstairs, where the lights were dim and
loud music was playing. As it was a weekday, there were not many people around.

I noticed a number of foreigners who were dancing. I sat down, and placed my order for a drink. They told me that it was closing time but still took my order. I finished my drink and left in a hurry, as the bouncers had started winding up.

Verdict: Not safe. It will be better if you have company with you

Place: Mini Punjab, Hinjewadiu00a0

Time: 11.15 pmu00a0

The waiters were very helpful in getting me seated and taking my order. There were two more women but they were with their friends. Other than occasional glances from the males present, I did not face any other problem.

A group of guys and girls came in later, and sat on the table on my right. I heard them telling one of their friends, who didn't have a female companion, to give me company, as I was alone.

Verdict: Safe

Place: Pub Apache, FC Road

Time: 10.30 pm

I walked in when it was almost closing time and took the stairs to the upper section. The waiters at first didn't want me to occupy the table I had chosen. But after I insisted, they agreed. They took my order for a cocktail and snacks.

I lit a cigarette. The waiters kept staring at me as I enjoyed my drink. They may have been wondering how a girl could be at a pub alone at that hour.

I got occasional curious glances from the guys at the table behind me. One of them even guided the waiter to me when I tried calling him to place another order.

The head waiter indicated at 11 pm that it was time to close. I finished and came down and met a foreigner, Bia from Germany. She said she did not find the city unsafe, and was unaware of crimes in the city. But she said that as some of her friends found the city unsafe, she always moved around with people she knew.

Verdict: Safe enough

Place: Comesum, Pune Railway Station

Time: 2.30 am

As I placed my order, I could almost hear the man at the counter and the waiters wondering how come I was alone at that place. I received occasional glances from the men around me. I noticed three men sitting on a bench outside the restaurant, leching over me. Later I even heard their loud voices indicating they were quite high. But as I walked out, they were gone and I heaved a sigh of relief.u00a0

Verdict: Not safe unaccompanied