I am prepared
to brave the scare this time
wanting to stay, no delay again.
Lockdown 4? Enough is enough
so much so that I fought with Ma
last night and told her
that I don’t care
about what Uma aunty has to say,
or how Sima Masi will react
to me staying with you
before the union.
What matters more Ma, you say?
An hour later, she was okay.
Who cares, after all this,
we’ve waited far enough
to convince our families
and sacrificed years- so many people
have left, and so many trips
cancelled. No one owes it for you both, she said.
Just take care, and call me twice.
How fast can Sunday arrive? let me see:
your place is all new, and your parents
will know after all, beti–bahu– will stay:
we’ll cook together, you buy bhindis
I’ll get the eggs, some maggi,
and after dinner early, some flame later
but before, head champis for free
okay? I’ll be waiting by our lane
with a small bag and some pillows
only if you were half as good to buy,
a shy smile beneath my mask
and a slow song on my mind.
