Once upon a time ...

There lived in India, long, long ago,
in a small town, unheard of, unseen
a girl who was married & widowed
even before she was out of her teens

And returned to her conservative home,
to work for her family, unpaid;
and spend the rest of her days, 
as a genteel, all purpose maid

The house was always crowded
with her large extended family,
relatives, and visiting friends
and she served them all devotedly

Her mornings dawned before the cock's -
coffee had to be roasted, ground & 
brewed
Water to be heated in the log furnace
before starting the process of cooking 
food

Children were waiting to be bathed
And their hunger had to be sated
There was sweeping and washing, too,
and pigtails had to be plaited

She went about her daily chores,
with a smile upon on her face
Gentle, cheerful and uncomplaining
Not expecting rewards or praise

Among her duties, was serving the meals
and cleaning up and waiting till
it was time for her to have her food 
After all the others had had their fill

Once, as she was ladling out the kheer *
on banana leaves which served as plate,
she was noticed by her brother's friend,
whose visits were more frequent of late

Neither spoke, yet their world stood still,
when, by chance, their eyes did meet
This was just for a split second - 
it was scandalous to even smile or greet

The day passed and many a night
but she never left his thoughts
His life had changed from that day on
Unknown emotions filled his heart

He finally decided to act
knowing  the road ahead was rough
He would be going against tradition
So, convincing elders would be tough

Yet, he knew she was the one for him
To confirm what was in her mind -
he penned a little note to her
and placed it where she was sure to find

He wrote - he would like to marry her 
and share her joys and pain
but if she didn't feel likewise
he would not trouble her again

He asked her to give her consent
when he came to visit them next
by holding a rose in her hand,
and he would take care of the rest

And if she didn't care for him
he would know, from her empty hand
His heart would be broken,  but,
either way he would understand

After a tense and sleepless night,
he arrived at their door
and saw her empty hands
as she hurried about her chores

Woebegone, but he kept his word
and never visited the house again
He disappeared from her life
not wanting to cause her trouble or pain

Years passed and times changed
She grew frail and wobbly on her feet
Finally, building up her nerve,
she took out her precious crumbling sheet

and turning to her grand niece
sitting by her, on a stool,
asked her what was written there
as she had never gone to school

~ Shanta ~

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* Kheer   -  An Indian sweet, served 
with meals

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