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Upasana Roy Aug 2014
1.
377, those numbers were a shame to him
“The crime is your ardor,” they said,
“You’re not our son,” they said,
“Let’s escape,” HE said.

2.
"I don’t wish the pain I felt on anyone
except them
I don’t wish the loss I suffered on anyone
Except them
No one saw the blood or heard me shriek that day
Except them
I deserve my vengeance
So we all can feel secure and alive
Except them"

3.
I always dreamt of those girls carrying bags
Crossing the stream to sit by the shade
Beautifully scripting those letters with chalk
Mesmerized by those abundant numbers
Appa finally brought me a bag today,
To script those letters, count those numbers.
To chase the person I’ve longed to be.

4.
“Did you fall again, ma?”
My tear lightly touched those tiny fingertips
“Be careful,” she whispered softly.
He glared at me with those cold hard eyes
Was I to lie again? Was I to protect a monster?
Enough. Tolerance had its bounds.
I swept her into my arms and didn't turn for that last look.

5.
Had I moved a little, the bullet would’ve grazed my shoulder
But it plunged straight into my heart
Had I run for cover, a brother would be sacrificed
Had I been a hero, by taking lives, I’d never sleep again
Today I was a hero, by giving my own
I now hope to perpetually sleep in peace.

6.
“Why must you say Old-age home with such distaste?
Those adorable little ones love me, I know
But I’m allowed to live my life
I want to be around those who understand me
I want to grow old amongst friends
I want to travel, to play, and to feel young
Perhaps maybe even fall in love, again?"
Independence is relative, it's individualistic. It's a way of living life.
The little anecdotes are from Indians finding their freedom. Happy Independence Day.
Upasana Roy Mar 2014
Blue was her
favorite color
like his
monday shirt
every morning
she glided
through
the stairwell
down the
alleyway
by the riverside
one glance
and in her head
she felt
the blue confetti
scatter and waft
around her
the feeling
was blue
and *magical
Upasana Roy Mar 2014
Two minds but one heart
twenty fingers of a firm grasp
four eyes but a soul window
an elixir of togetherness
an ensemble of laughter

*two girls but one world
Upasana Roy Mar 2014
That night she was stopped
that quiet whisper of love
that gentle touch
it was questioned
the lights shone brightly on them
the windows rolled down
they questioned her
they questioned her love, her faith
what did her name have to do with it?
or her age?
she loved him, she truly did
they asked her how much money she took
money against  a measure of time with him?
what did that woman mean?
"she's in a uniform, don't question her" he said
but she protested,
because she loved him, she truly did.

A societal mess- that's what she became.
A name in the newspapers
a shame to her household
a grave mistake.
he had to leave, her father said
you mustn't be fooled, her mother said
her crying eyes bid him farewell
he vowed that he'd love her
he vowed he'd be there one day
"it's too convoluted now"
Fate decided- so be it
Then it changed.

She walked down that narrow alley like every day
she was afraid to use the front door
everyone stared
they said horrible things
why subject herself to it everyday?
it's painless for her to take the back alley
no one notices, she's just a shadow

They followed this gentle shadow
they followed her footsteps
the tinkling of these earrings he had given her
they cautiously waited till that moment
till that moment that they could destroy her
bit by bit.
no one came in response to those blood curling shrieks
no one shone a light on them
no woman in a uniform asked her how much she would charge them
no man called her dishonorable
there was no one at all
just her empty eyes and susurrus protests
she laid barren, exposed in that back alley
it was dark, no lights
no concern, no questions
no allegations, no threats
no mistakes, no convolutions
it was simple really as she lay there
at least she died in honor, right?
At least no one would accuse her now?
Wrong,
that would continue, how naive she was even at her end
as she went from a shadow to a memory
without love
without life
In a country such as ours, it is illegal to kiss in public, it is illegal to display any sort of  affection. In a country such as ours, gay marriage is illegal. It is demeaned and looked down upon. Because it's punishable, it's deplorable.
However the convictions for **** in India are a mere 24.21%. We give our rapists a serious amount of confidence to pursue their act of 'masculinity', shall we call it?
Also in our glorious country, out of the 706 **** cases reported in 2012 in New Delhi, only one resulted in convictions.In our glorious country- gang **** is a form of punishment. However fine and humiliation is imposed on any public display of affection. Women endure demeaning by others, even women of a greater, lower or even equal rank for 'being in love' or having 'a male friend' so as to the point where they are accused of being prostitutes.
We are a wonderful country, let's cherish our values, cultures and ethics. Shall we?
Upasana Roy Feb 2014
Fearful of grave loss
   frightened of dusk,
  her tenebrous lash

    Hope? Never Again
    Life? Her disregarded choice
    The light unable to overcome
   the ingrained ink


      Her gentle visage buried in grief
     fallen eyes
     Linger till the light returns
Lygophobia: Fear of darkness or night
Upasana Roy Feb 2014
Relish her yearning
Her light fingertips on yours
Painting a lush world
Eunoia- Wishful Thinking
Upasana Roy Feb 2014
Silent, still, whistlers
Careening between silk leaves
Explode into symphony
Psithurism- The sound of wind through trees

— The End —