Landing in a big city at 2 am and booking a cab is a routine experience for many travellers. For a large number of women, however, it comes with an invisible checklist of safety precautions.
When Apoorva (Instagram: @potraitsbyapoorva) landed in Mumbai late at night and booked a woman-driven cab, she experienced something rare: the ability to simply sit back and enjoy the ride without constant worry. Her description of that feeling was striking — “I felt like a man today.”
What Made the Ride Different
In her Instagram video that has since gone viral, Apoorva explained that she almost forgot she had to worry about her safety.
“During the ride, I wasn’t constantly checking my phone. I wasn’t on a call with a family member, pretending someone was tracking my journey. I could just relax,” she said.
There was no dramatic incident or special act of kindness. The journey was completely ordinary — and that was exactly the point. For once, getting home did not feel like a risk that needed to be actively managed.
Her Reflection on Privilege
In the caption, Apoorva clarified that her comment was not meant to suggest men never experience fear or vulnerability. Instead, it was about catching a glimpse of what it might feel like to move through the world without safety being a constant calculation.
“Sometimes, freedom is simply being able to exist without fear. And that’s a privilege not everyone gets to experience equally,” she wrote.
Her message highlighted how many everyday activities that should be simple — taking a cab, travelling alone at night, or even dozing off during the ride — often require extra planning and vigilance for women.
Public Reaction
The video resonated widely. One user commented:
“This articulates something so profound that many of us as men rarely have to think about. We take for granted the simple freedom of living a normal life, which is an invisible privilege.”
Many others acknowledged how easily such everyday freedom can go unnoticed until it is suddenly experienced or pointed out.
Quick Facts: Mumbai 2 AM Cab Experience 2026
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Who | Apoorva (@potraitsbyapoorva on Instagram) |
| Time of Arrival | 2 am in Mumbai |
| Experience | Booked a woman-driven cab |
| Her Feeling | “I felt like a man today” – able to relax without safety worries |
| Key Point | Ordinary, uneventful ride felt remarkable because of the absence of fear |
| Public Response | Viral video; discussions on invisible privilege and women’s safety |
| Date | October 2026 |
Apoorva’s short video has struck a chord because it puts into words a quiet reality many women navigate daily. What should be a simple late-night cab ride often comes with layers of caution that others may never have to consider.
