I walked through the burning streets
Coughing, as the smoke choked my throat.
I saw a woman, half-naked,
A victim of someone's lust.
Before I could understand what's happening
She threw herself into the fire.
I stood there, still, watching her
Not a single scream I heard
I waited there till she turned to ashes!
I asked myself - "Would I do it?"

I walked a few steps ahead
And saw a mob of people burning houses
As if burning crackers of the festival of light
I heard screams and saw faces full of fright.
Then I saw a woman, with her child clinging to her chest
She had a bleeding wound around her waist.
She had a dagger in her hand
Already stained with blood and asking for more.
She thrust it into the people coming close to her child,
One and a lot more!
One by one all fell on ground, in pool of blood, dead!
She did this so that her child could live…
So what if she is dead!
I questioned myself -"Would I do it?"

Under such circumstances, the woman in me would do it!
But the escapist in me would not have the guts to do it
Would rather cry over the loss of feminine wealth
And mourn over child's death!

I am not the only one,
I represent the many that live in this society
We all are perhaps born this way…
Escapist, calling ourselves reputed citizens of the society!