Masking Reality

Help me, for I am lost as can be

I seem to be far from reality.

Between acquainting oneself I found

A question that left me dumbfound.

What can caste possibly add to me

The very interest in it I fail to see.

I thought we'd come far from that

But it still found a way in an idle chat.

A plastic smile plastered on her face

"Inter-religion", I said, in her slow pace.

Disturbing as it is but some still ask

Caste, religion, behind a progressive mask

Labels, boundaries, presumptions et all

The things that make us humans small.

About this post: I know it's been a while since my last update, sorry, was really caught up. This post is about a conversation I had recently, with a professional from the education industry. The said person decided to have a small talk with me and started asking me about family, background and so on.

She happened to ask about my husband and then went to know whether our marriage was an inter caste marriage. (This is surprisingly very normal in India, keeping in mind that our society is so horribly conditioned to the caste system that was prevalent long, long ago and most people are making serious efforts to eradicate this thought process). So anyhow, I corrected the said person with my reply.."An inter-religion marriage-Jainism & Hinduism". The reaction, ohhh, followed by a plastic smile.

As expected, the next question was, "So you haven't changed your name after marriage?". I very patiently said, "No." But that wasn't enough, she wanted more than a simple "No". Then I turned to this senior, very experienced person and said, "No, because I didn't want to and because it's a legal process, the changes don't happen overnight, it is a change of identity." I was shocked to hear that this person had no idea that name change after marriage, is indeed a legal process.

I felt so sad because this person actually engages with students and I'm scared of what they're going to learn. I wish I had a genie, my one and only wish would be radical change, before the "civilized society" crumbles .

Why?

Customs, ours and theirs, why must we have identical prayers?

Women are above any precious thing, then why such shame to them you bring?

Your daughter is your honour, why then are her wishes swept in a corner?

She is your pride, why then must she hide?

Your life or mine, why must we live by another's design?

The bride was teary eyed, why couldn't they be by her side?

The home of God stood razed, what kind of monster had there grazed?

They burnt, they shot, will they ever be caught?

They preach of goodness, is that why in some way they repress?

They always measure your worth, is that why we happen to be on earth?

The patient was beyond repair, why couldn't they mend his tear?

A flood of memories, I ache, I wince, words flow easily ever since...

About the post: Well, this one is totally random, a bunch of lines, each pertaining to some prevalent issues of the day. The list of why(s) is not exhaustive, just some random thoughts.

Ameera's Adventure

Ameera rolled her sleeves as her cape swayed,

She moved towards the giant cave to commence her raid.

There was no other way or means of reclaiming her Queen's domain,

The monsters turned on her at once, but she annihilated them with much strain.

She tripped and faltered, a scratch here, a gash there,

But she egged on further, in the monsters' lair.

Battered, bruised and strained by the onslaught,

She made her way out as she valiantly fought.

She gulped the fresh air and steadied herself

Not long before she was intercepted by a dark elf.

It studied her for a long time.

Ameera was helpless, she found herself engulfed by grime.

Dark elves, they were hard to evade

But this was not Ameera's first raid.

She wrapped her cape around herself tighter, till it became a shell.

The dark elf made attempts to break her will,

It summoned waves of grime but Ameera stayed still.

Vexed and humiliated, the dark elf finally withdrew.

Ameera emerged from her shell, her next duty in clear view.

She eyed the ominous hill of the dead.

It was a wasteland of corpses where one must carefully tread.

Ameera drew her sword and cleared her path.

They tried to grab her and strike her with all their wrath.

Ameera had to battle these vengeful vines.

She soldiered on and drove them to hell's confines.

Finally, she stood atop the hill, beaming with pride.

Conquered again, she celebrated with her arms open wide.

"Ameera! What do you think you are doing?

What if you fall?! I don't need any trouble brewing!"

Ameera snapped out to reality and her shoulders sank.

"Sorry Auntiji", she uttered, her expression now blank.

As Ameera made her way down the kitchen slab

The mistress inspected Ameera's work, she waddled around with her flab.

"The cupboard better be spotless, cleared of the insects and cobwebs."

Ameera nodded away, her glory and pride ebbs.

"The bed better be rid of the monsters underneath,

Bhaiiyya complains of chattering teeth.

Better set the rat traps right away.

You hear me?! Or still dreaming and been led astray??"

About the poem:

I wrote this poem for a poetry competition a few months back.

The poem describes the arduous daily routine of a maid servant, who is a young girl. She is an imaginative girl who works as per her Mistress’ wishes. Most of the poem has elements that we’ve come across in person or seen or read in news. This poem tries to explore this young girl’s thoughts and how she goes about her daily routine-dusting, cleaning, avoiding the “evil” eye of the Mistress’ son.