Promise Over A Ring

1 A. M.

One by one

You peeled my layers,

The zig zag threads over

Untied my white corset.

You left me bare leaving

My screams cuddle tears

And blood tear down love.

You promised me over one ring,

Now I'm repaying debt over my lifetime.

12 A. M

Twelve dishes

We cleaned together.

One I cleaned, two you rubbed

Over the ceramic cups we fight.

The left over food on plates

You forced down into my throat.

My mouth refused to open

But you rubbed my skin with brush

My screams caged by my teeth

And tears washed my smeared face.

You promised me over one ring,

Now I'm repaying debt over my lifetime.

11 P. M.

Eleven clothes

We washed together.

Once I brushed, twice you wrung,

The string where our clothes left to dry

Now you tie over my neck to chock cry.

The bloody red sheets where you made love

Tell the tales of how Satanic you are.

I rubbed, and rubbed over and over

Till it don't get torn down to become towel.

As it was the bedsheet gifted by

Your dearest friend whom you loved

Gently, caressing her milky breasts

And lovely lips, I stood at the corner watching

How to make love on our bed           

  At first night of my marriage life. 

10. P. M.

Ten rupees

We earned together.

Nine I earned, one you stole,

The bottles you brought to pour

Yourself to whim over how life

Was so cruel to your family.

I plead bottle not to get over soon        

Before one drop left, you leave your place stand behind

And trail that long finger over my shoulder blades

And drag down my blouse mended for ten thousand times  

Your nails dig inside, a hiss with blood erupts,

Your alcoholic laughter sends sudden chills                               

Down the spine, heart at a time, I stiff. 

Your hands snake over my right upper breast

Where you asked to keep my purse

You pull out the purse for ten rupees

And a Cigarette you need, in absence.

You tear down my blouse in pieces

And grab those breasts turned bluish

That lighter in your hand burns

Over my nipples bearing scars.

9 P. M.

Nine friends

We invited together,

One of mine, eight of yours

You asked mine to leave before she entered.

I watched pleading not to leave but she left.

Last time, when she dared to stay,

Your friends locked we both and one

Was her husband among them.

Two or three enters with a belt

And others wait for chances and bet

On whose whim on back will

Our cries tear down the walls of ears.

She hugged me tight and asked to

Hold her back and she did mine,

Our shirts got stained, our hands got red

We bite our lips in between teeth

Each whim on back led our teeth dig deep

You promised me care over one ring

Now I'm replaying debt over my lifetime.

8 P. M.

Eight children,

We raised them together.

One of ours, seven of yours

You gave me responsibility to

Clean the diapers of those innocents.

With two hands, one body I cradle

Each in my arms one at a time

And stayed awake at night to

Make them sleep on bed in time.

If in middle of night, you hear a cry

You come wearing monster on face

And wipe the ass of that innocent

The scars on heart and cries of nine

You whip them on back, black and blue

until they lay down unconscious.

You promised me support over one ring

Now I'm replaying debt over my lifetime.

7 P. M.

Seven rounds

We took together,

Seven by you and seven by me.

You took my hand in front of holy Agni,

Each lifetime, you will be my husband

Seven times you care, seven times you share

All joys and sorrows, all love and morrows.

One by one we will face together

All calamities life throws altogether.

I was unaware of the calamity universe threw,

You as beast in youth handsome look,

There your mom stood stiff when I bend for blessings,

I looked up and only one word she fell on her lips

'Run' from the time, you're about to enter

I smiled and accepted, determined not to surrender.

But if I can go back to the seven-year-old me,

I would have become strong against child marriage indeed.