(Editor's Note: This article was written before the police investigation revealed that the suspect detained in connection with the alleged rape was the woman’s friend, and not a stranger who had gained entry by posing as a courier delivery agent. It has also come to light that it was the woman herself who took a selfie with him and typed the threatening message on her phone)

My mornings nowadays begin with fear — fear that grows with every new rape case reported in Pune. While I often refrain from reading about such crimes happening across India, it's impossible to ignore them when they occur in the very city I live and work in. As a journalist, professional obligations leave me no choice but to read, report and write numerous stories about these horrifying incidents.

Last year, I woke up to the shocking news of a gang rape at Bopdev Ghat — a scenic spot on the city's outskirts known for its breathtaking views. For me, it was more than just another headline. I had once been there with a group of friends, but I remember choosing to stay inside the car, afraid, because I was aware of the crimes that had been reported in that area.

I remember looking out at the well-lit city from that dark hilltop — a city that hosts thousands of women like me, women who think a hundred times before stepping out of their homes, because the fear of rape never truly leaves us.

Since then, victim shaming has become so rampant that I’ve started dressing conservatively, wearing kurtis and sharing my live location every time I step........

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