I met her as my colleague
She was in her late 30s
Trying to shield her boundless sad
With her busy schedule and her son.
Chosen to teaching
To forget the in-laws teasing
And parents worrying.
Taken to reading in full swing
And the never-ending serials of the
Wonder idiot box*.
She has got parted away
From her man, we were told by rumours
He was the incarnation of beastly demon
And adulterated with many a woman
Someone said at some time, somewhere.
All her colleagues pay attention to her story
They ask her never
Nor do they accept her ever
As he has run away from him
One noble lady feels
“She is very adamant
He must be good man.”
The truth is that she has not seen him even once
“She could not live with him”
Remarks her one time friend.
“She cannot be adjusted
She is very much egoistic”
One male colleague gives her moral support.
He talks to her always
His looks are always everywhere on her
Her inquisitive boss once quizzed her
“What is your husband?’
As he could not ask her
“Where is your husband?’
She showed her annoyance
But said “He is in the States”
Nobody knows his state.
So, interest is on her marital status.
“Why does not she remarry?” – a concerned voice.
“Who will marry her with a child?” – a concerned response.
The neighbours, not so neighbourly.
Keeps a watch on her by scrutinizing every visitor to her house
Trying to get a degree by researching
About her life.
They know more about her than her
Their research bend of mind needs to be conferred
With a doctoral degree.
The much-learned society
Who would not even come out
When their neighbour’s son met with an accident
Is always ready to tell about her unknown story
Even to a two-minute old friend
And kept open their intelligentia
To find her life story
As their life’s mission.
She walks in silence
And lives around noises
Not knowing or conniving the murmurs around.