Bruised and battered
her bags packed
she’s home for good
she says!
You, her father,
turn a blind eye to cruelty
only mindful of the Samaj’s ways!

Disregarding her unpacked bags
in the hallway,
unmindful and uncaring
of her tear-streaked, swollen face,
you show her the door that day!

A day later
the telegram arrives
striking terror `Daughter found dead’.
The terse words
leaves a lot left unsaid.

She was found hanging from the ceiling
her torn body in all her bridal finery clad,
the town people are supportive, ostracise the
boy’s family, they are held in Jail
without bail
and her parents are terribly broken and sad!

A hastily scribbled note, all smudged
with tears was found near her body
that read …
‘you never stood up for me father,
you were a coward big brother,
too late for tears mother,
by the time you receive this I’ll be dead!’

The father now hangs his head in shame
her act has brought him notoriety
and ill-fame,
If only,
he had listened to her that ill-fated
day in May.
His beautiful young daughter would
have been alive, happy and gay!