In a deeply distressing incident from Kota, Rajasthan, a young girl selling roses was allegedly slapped by an auto-rickshaw driver for chasing after his vehicle in an attempt to make a sale. The heartbreaking moment was captured by Instagram content creator Shikhar Sahni, who runs the account Ride with Shikhar.
The viral video shows the child sitting alone on a road divider, visibly shaken and crying uncontrollably. Shikhar, who was passing by on his motorcycle, stopped to check on her. He tried to console the girl and even offered her money, but she refused—her tears speaking louder than words.
Sharing the video online, Shikhar wrote, “She didn’t cry because she didn’t get the money… she cried because the world failed her. An auto driver slapped her for chasing after his auto to sell a rose. I stopped, listened, and tried to comfort her. She refused money, not out of pride, but pain.”
In the video, text overlays describe how Shikhar gently placed his hand on her head and urged her not to chase vehicles on busy roads, highlighting the risks involved.
The video has since sparked massive outrage online, with viewers expressing shock and anger at the auto driver’s alleged assault on a young street vendor. One user commented, “Hitting someone for any reason except self-defence is unacceptable. This is heartbreaking.” Another wrote, “So much stress that you’ll assault a young girl struggling to earn? Sick.”
Many praised the girl’s dignity and resilience, noting that her refusal to accept money showed the incident was not about sympathy, but about her hurt and frustration with a world that treated her unfairly.
As the video continues to circulate, many have called for local authorities to identify and take action against the driver involved.