Apoorva had arrived in Mumbai at around 2 am when she booked a cab to reach her destination. Instead of getting a male driver, she was picked up by a woman cab driver.
The journey itself was not unusual. There was no dramatic incident, no unexpected problem and no extraordinary act of kindness. It was simply a normal cab ride.
But for Apoorva, that ordinary experience felt special.
She explained in an Instagram video that she almost forgot she had to worry about her safety. She was able to sit comfortably without constantly checking her phone or making calls to family members.
For many women, this may sound like a small thing. However, anyone who has experienced the anxiety of travelling alone late at night can understand why this journey meant so much to her.
Why Did She Say ‘I Felt Like a Man Today’?
Apoorva’s statement became the most talked-about part of her video.
She explained that during the ride, she did not feel the need to keep checking her phone. She was not pretending to speak to a family member just to make it appear that someone was monitoring her journey.
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She could simply relax and enjoy the ride.
Her comparison was about the difference in how men and women often experience everyday travel. Many men may not have to think about personal safety every time they enter a cab at night.
Women, on the other hand, may consider several things before and during a journey. They may check the driver’s details, share their live location, inform someone about their destination and remain alert until they reach home.
Apoorva clarified that she was not suggesting men never experience fear or vulnerability. Instead, she wanted people to understand what it feels like to move around without safety becoming a constant concern.
A Normal Cab Ride That Felt Like Freedom
One of the most powerful aspects of Apoorva’s story is that nothing extraordinary happened.
The driver simply completed her job, and Apoorva reached her destination.
Yet, the experience gave her a sense of freedom that she felt was often missing from women’s everyday lives.
In her Instagram caption, she reflected on how women sometimes have to plan their movements around possible safety risks.
Even something as simple as taking a cab can involve several mental calculations.
Should I call my parents? Should I share the vehicle number? Is the driver taking the correct route? What if the cab stops somewhere unexpected?
These questions can turn an ordinary journey into a stressful experience.
Apoorva’s experience highlighted how meaningful it can be when a woman can travel without constantly thinking about these possibilities.
Why Women’s Safety During Late-Night Travel Remains a Concern in India
Women’s safety during public and private transport continues to be an important issue across Indian cities.
From Mumbai and Delhi to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai, many women travel late at night because of work, education, airport journeys, healthcare needs and personal commitments.
Women working in IT companies, hospitals, hotels, aviation and other industries often have shifts that extend beyond regular working hours.
For them, travelling at night is not always a choice. It is part of their daily routine.
Even when transport services offer safety features, some women still feel the need to take additional precautions.
They may share cab details with family members, keep their phones charged, monitor the route and avoid sleeping during the journey.
These habits are often treated as normal, but they also show how much additional attention women may have to give to something as basic as getting home safely.
Why Women-Driven Cabs Can Make a Difference
Apoorva’s experience has also brought attention to women working as professional cab drivers.
For some female passengers, having a woman behind the wheel can create a greater sense of comfort, particularly during late-night journeys.
It can also encourage more women to consider driving as a profession and become financially independent.
Women-driven cab services and women-focused transport options have the potential to provide passengers with more choices.
However, it is important to remember that a driver’s gender alone cannot guarantee safety. Professional training, proper background verification, vehicle tracking, reliable complaint systems and quick emergency support are essential for every transport service.
The goal should be to make every journey safe, regardless of who is driving.
Social Media Users Relate to Her Experience
Apoorva’s video received attention from people who understood the feeling she was trying to describe.
One user pointed out that men often take the freedom of travelling without fear for granted. The comment highlighted how some everyday privileges may remain invisible to people who do not have to think about them.
The discussion also encouraged people to look beyond the literal meaning of her statement.
Her experience was not about comparing men and women or suggesting that every man travels without fear. It was about explaining the additional safety concerns that many women face.
For some viewers, the video was a reminder of the precautions their mothers, sisters, wives and friends take whenever they travel alone.
What Needs to Change for Women Travelling at Night?
Apoorva’s story raises an important question: why should a woman need a special experience to feel relaxed during an ordinary cab journey?
Transport companies and authorities can take several steps to improve passenger confidence.
Reliable driver verification, functional emergency buttons, accurate GPS tracking and quick responses to complaints should be basic requirements.
Companies can also improve support for women working late shifts by providing dependable transport arrangements.
At the same time, public awareness and responsible behaviour are equally important. Passengers should be able to travel without harassment, intimidation or unwanted attention.
Safety should not depend on whether a woman is travelling with a friend, speaking to someone on the phone or choosing a particular driver.
A Simple Journey That Started a Bigger Conversation
Apoorva’s 2 am cab ride in Mumbai was an ordinary journey in many ways. But the feeling she experienced was important enough to share with thousands of people.
Her words, “I felt like a man today,” have started a conversation about the freedom that many people take for granted.
For women, being able to travel alone, relax during a cab ride and reach home without fear should not feel like a special privilege.
It should be a normal part of everyday life.
Perhaps the biggest message from her viral video is this: women should not have to plan their entire journey around fear. They should be able to travel freely, confidently and safely, just like everyone else.