Naked by Choice
She undresses it, very clumsily A burden she carried reluctantly Nothing compared to her marriage though She wanted to take the blouse off Since the punishing afternoon that tanned her skin And made her sweat after an enduring day at work Where saree was a compulsion And so was not raising any voice against it For them, saree prevented rape It is what temples see fit to be worn Did they ask gods what they want? Gods want to see her in clothes that fit comfortably And that is it. Full stop. In fact, naked is the ideal apparel for gods Like they had made us in the first place But knowing how corrupt the society has become They have to settle for the cloak She wants to get rid of this saree It has dust of the streets And lust of men from work, from shops From trial rooms at shopping malls Who have fancy for her bra O fab India! And ladies who talk of her backless blouse Behind her back It has to be behind her back Her carefully disclosing cleavage and deep ne