My first breath into the world,
My parents last smile on the world,
I cried for my mother but,
she was in tears holding my father
not becz I was their first child but,
Becz they were blessed with a girl child.
My presence was a pain for my family,
My presence was a burden for my brother,
My presence suffocated my grandparents,
My presence was questionable in the society,
My presence was sacred during Durga pooja but a pleasurable object the other days,
My presence was equal to divinity until
I had my first red flood,
I grew up watching the birds fly
But I was denied from owning my wings,
I grew up to be poise and dignified
But I never had the gut to raise my tone,
I grew up with the best morals and values
But never had a mind of my own,
I grew up watching patriotic movies
But never had a freedom of my own,
I grew up learning equality in school
But never found one around me,
I grew up learning about great leaders
But never had an opportunity to be one,
I grew up learning to raise voice for one self
But was silenced by the society's norms,
I grew up fantasising my dream boy
But found my prefect match who always stood by me by disagreeing to every word,
I was diagnosed with domestic violence
But was prescribed between dowry or child,
I was a burden to the family so
I choose to be an unapologetic mother,
My son was ashamed of me becz I was a home maker,
But he never knew how hard it is to be one,
My husband won the Best employee of the year and my son's eye was glowing with pride
But, never did they realise I am winning the Best employee of the year every year at home and none were proud of it,
I had nothing to gain but a lot to lose,
I had nerves while machines had batteries the only difference I could sense,
But lucky are those machines as they rested when drained and when I needed one I had to be buried deep down to rest in peace at last.
- Brinda.M.K
