Coming of age

Her workplace shifts
to home now,
the work never really ends
To lessen the burden
a helping hand the daughter lends
Amidst the sizzling of spices
conversations also crackle :

"Once I start earning,
we'll get a house by the beach
in Ilha de Calma, mom!
We'll make our own isle of peace."

She laughed, replied :
"You're 21..."

(21 too old to daydream? )

"You'll be getting married soon!"

(Not again!)

"23 is the correct age."

"Its too soon. I don't even work, don't have a job!"

"Oh you'll have one by them"

( I wish! )

"Find a good guy for yourself"

( I don't think I'm capable of doing so)

"Must not drink, must not smoke..."

( Remembers something, smirks)

"...should respect you and love you.."

( okay, sounds good)

" ...follows our religion.. "

( Oh, so being in love was never an option?)

"... you see how difference of religious practices is working against..."

( cuts her short) " I know"

( both let out a sigh)

"I'm so grateful to God, my girl is pretty..."

"Mom. No."

"You remember how they couldn't find a groom for her, she wasn't that..."

"I do. I do. But still, its too early...."

"You know the complications she's undergoing in her pregnancy..."

( I am reminded of the body clock. Of course! What else is the ultimate goal of our lives? )

"Let me first get a job"

"Oh yes.. Of course"

( To find : A sarkaari naukri and that "good guy" who probably doesn't exist. No pressure!)

I know this mindset is not yours,
It has been borrowed -
lent from one generation to another,
I know it has a lot to do with
"What would people say!"
I know,
this is the way of the world..
I know 
of your dreams, hopes, expectations
and my obligations
and that you want to see me happy,
I believe
there won't be anyone else who would feel the same as you do,
for me...
But!
Let's agree to disagree,
and for a change -
Find a middle path, maybe? :)

Its getting darker

The last rays
are being engulfed
the light is being
strangled
It has started getting dark.

The day passed by
a bit too soon
giving way 
to a hazy, sooty, choking sky
bereft of the lights and the moon
It has started getting dark

The night drags itself
with its paralysing misery
the claws of pain
against your wall of conscious
leaving you sleepless, immobile
It has started getting darker

The memories of the day
the unexpected turn it made
lay heavy on you
the burden
seeming to break you
tearing your flesh and bones
from inside
It has started getting darker

You crouch
trying to shield yourself
waiting for sleep
to come and help you
go through
It has already got darker

The daylight's still distant
you might as well find dreams
and hope
to hold on to
to remain with you
in this solitude
the night's still getting darker.

Though the time still gallops,
across this vast badland
and the light lurks somewhere
near the horizon
the tussle within continues
either to carry on
with the inconsequential efforts of resistance
or to succumb
to succumb, give up
let the darkness in
and let it corrode your being
let it dissolve you completely,
make you one with itself
and vanish

Or to wait -
For the day
might be just around the corner
To believe
that it is the darkest before the dawn
To hold on to the last weak flame
before its gone

Wait,
for maybe
the night is about to fade.
Wait,
for maybe
the day will be back
ever stronger
(Or not?)

Or maybe,
the night might not
bother you longer.
and you won't be able to tell anymore,
If it is the dawn,
Or its still getting darker.