Dusty afternoon in remote Haryana
Men folk gathered outside
Women go back and forth
hushed tones, bangles sharing secrets
white kurta clad unshaven man
holding his three daughters
eyes wide interrogating the door
‘Oh.. maa! Mahadev.. jai maatadi
Screams pierce the air now and then
The man paces up and down
slaps the crying toddler
toddler screams in resonance with
the howl of the street dog and jai maatadi
a feeble cry from inside- a cat’s meow?
Grey haired white sari clad woman rushes out
The man freezes.. eyes collide and collude
the lady rushes in with hand full of roots and green leaves
Bangles clashing sounds, slaps, push-pulls
feeble cat meows non stop
Street dog howls, sudden dark clouds emerge- sky cries out loud
The group of men and women are gone
the girls go play- the man lights up a beedi
the women run home
Silent cat-
@claypaper
© clayppr
#writco