When her daughter comes
To the festive of Panchami.
Her mother doesn't ask
"Where's her husband?"
She knows how to read
Her veiled smile.
All night, both prepare
Laadu for the occasion and
Talk about the Jhulas and
Coconut Barfi of the old days.
The way they went to the
Farm to have lunch under
The neem tree, when
The Oldman was alive.
For a while, she thought of
Just asking, and the daughter
Too longed to tell all about her
Broken marriage..
But both know about the leaky
Roof above, which can't handle
The pour down of two people
At once.
So they gulp down their tears
By pretending to taste the
Laadus... For what use are
The sweets of a festive if not
To assuage salty grief?