“Kaviya”

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October 4

“Hello, Kaviya. You didn’t come, did you?”

“No, Ma’am, I didn’t come today.
He beat me badly.
How could I have done any work?”

“Beat you? Why? Why don’t you leave him?”

“What can I do? Where would I go?
Who would keep me
with two children?”

“He doesn’t beat you otherwise, does he?”

“No, Ma’am. He loves me very much.
He takes care of the expenses,
He brings everything we need.
That is why I don’t leave him.”

“Yes, but when he comes home after drinking,
He remains intoxicated, doesn’t he?
That is when he beats you.
What can I say?
He is a labourer.
He drinks after every two or four days.”

“Oh, so you just keep getting beaten like this!
You get beaten, and you still show him love.
And what about me?
You keep disturbing my work,
And I have to sit here listening to your stories.
Now tell me, when will you come?”

“It will take me two days, Ma’am.
I am taking medicine
And drinking turmeric milk.
Please order food from outside for two days.”

My husband, who had been listening to the conversation, said,

“See how sensible she is?
Even after being beaten by her husband,
She doesn’t speak ill of him.
Could you do that?”

My already-irritated mind became even more irritated.

“Yes, yes! That’s all that was left.
Now you start too!”

Such a spectacle of married life
Is common in our society.

Kaviya gets beaten—and she tells us about it;
A sophisticated lady,
On the other hand,
Simply says that she fell in the bathroom.

Vidya