Kaushiki's soup for the literary soul

Dowry Wife

Dowry Wife
Flames are all I see
Their greedy tongues have embedded me.
Writhing in pain, unable to stand
My mind went back to the 1972 bus stand
When our gazes locked and time stood still,
Cupid shot an arrow and taught me to feel.
Time passed and we decided to marry.
The only problem was that your family demanded dowry.

Belonging to a modern family,
My first doubt crept in slowly
But sheer magic and love’s power
Drowned out the rational voice, I was a blind lover.
My parents promised to pay the money
And my marriage took place a morning, warm and sunny
Sad to leave my parents, and eager for a new life
It was then I realised what it is to be a dowry wife.

Duty began at four in the morning.
Cooking breakfast for those who did the earning
Washing, cleaning, and wearing the saree
With a pallu over my head, was compulsory.
Dust covered my college degree,
Respect for me in the household was meagre.
It took me long to realise who I was
A servant to do the chores, which she dutifully does.

And during the nights, pleasuring my husband was a must.
With no loving conversations, our bond began to rust.
He was just a chauvinistic puppet, full of lust.
His mother, the master puppeteer, so kind and just.
A powerful lady, unscrupulous and smart.
Her sole purpose was to throw my life apart.
Yet I bore through it all
Till the day he struck me in a mall.

They knew I had had enough.
That I would divorce them, my spirit was tough.
Scared they would lose the chance to stuff their mouth with notes
They decided to burn me to death, on an unanimous vote.
I was sleeping when they started the fire.
My slumber broke when I had begun to perspire.
Hypnotizing red-yellow snakes were dancing about.
Not realising at first I began to shout.

My saree had caught fire, the door was locked.
And then it clicked in me, Sasuma had the plan chalked.
I stopped shouting, a calmness spread over me.
Death will finally save me and end the agony.
I would miss my parents, I wish they were stronger.
But it was my blind love which pushed me into this danger.
So, my dear Sautan, do take care.
You are the new dowry wife, caught in their snare.

Meanings of a few indian words-
Saree- An indian traditional attire, worn by wrapping a fabric around the body in certain patterns.
Pallu- loose end of a saree which is hanging over the shoulder.
Sautan- the term used to refer to the other wife of one's own husband.