Yet another gold castle emptied

Rain lashes outside the windows

Washing away the mud people scurried over a while back

Freshly made bed, pillows fluffed up

Sprawled upon it a thousand memories,

Time ticks away. It was 11.26 just three minutes ago. Or 23.26.

Charlatan thoughts they are

Fastidious care, theirs.

Washing away the hours she scurried over a while back.

Time ticks away. Doesn't it, always?

The blueprint in the making,

Do they go back to it

After buildings have fallen, without grace?

Time ticks away, like it never cared.

Rubble. People. Rubble.

Trapped, beyond rescue.

Gracefully frozen beneath the din

For time ticks away... like it must.

Wrapped in six yards of silk, she thought this was it.

She walked with a large brass plate towards the altar,

Carrying the garlands that would seal the loose ends -- bit by bit.

The bridal gait, the overflowing love, some jealous looks -- she now looked at it from afar.

Who knew the walk was towards her own end? A bright, young lady walking towards her own doom? 

Vismaya and S Kiran Kumar on their wedding day

Image Courtesy: The News Minute

21st century and the time for women. Equality, Literacy, Knowledge -- words that seem hollow, more than ever. Relationships with a bitter aftertaste. What is left is some of the 100 sovereigns, an acre of land and a Toyota Yaris from the dowry while the 22-year- old Vismaya's body turned cold, just like her dreams. A budding BAMS ( Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) final year student married to S Kiran Kumar, an official at the Motor Vehicle Department -- theirs was just another wedding at Kerala in March 2020 . A wedding where the bride can't hold her neck too straight as the gold weighs her down. The competition seems to have only increased with time with more options to exhibit the status of the family under the guise of so-called woman's best friend diamonds, gold and much else. 

Unni P Dev and Priyanka on their wedding day (left)

Image Courtesy: The News Minute, Manorama Online

While the news flashed, an average Malayali family was transported to the recent death of late Malayalam film actor Rajan P Dev's daughter in law. A suicide apparently, the case is still underway. Unni Dev, the husband was arrested after ensuring he had tested negative for Covid - 19 ( what a trial for the police in between all that they are already subjected to, amidst the pandemic!). 

Around this time last year, there was a case regarding a man killing his wife using a poisonous snake. What a snake charmer! 

The key words in all these cases have been the same - dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. Can one imagine? 100 sovereigns of gold and sometimes more than that, land and vehicles later, a woman is subjected to cruelty. Its painful proof usually remains in the phones of the deceased's relatives followed probably by years of guilt and sorrow for a lifetime. 

What if we could have done something to avert this tragedy? Wouldn't she be still around with her smile to brighten our days? These are questions that no longer seek answers. 

This may be just another case in the case diary of one of the most literate states in India. But mind you! This is not just another story in Kerala alone. Such crimes are often subject to name changes around the country (and world) often taking turns like honour killing and so on. 

Aren't we collectively responsible in some or the other way? Each time one counts the number of chains on her neck and weighs her family's status by it; each time one indulges in discussions regarding what "she brings to the table with this wedding", let's remember that we are to be blamed. 

Each time a bride poses with sunglasses on her wedding day, let's politely whisper into her ears, 

"Keep up the spirit, my girl! Never bow down to anything that tries to break you down. You are far above the misery you'll ever find yourself in. We are with you, always." 

And let's mean all of what we whisper into her ears. Always! 

Image for representational purpose only.
Image Source: https://weheartit.com/entry/245673975

This piece appeared on Pen News India Website on June 23, 2021