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She Was “Too Naked”
Challenging patriarchy and society’s unfair standards through poetry
One evening, the father said, “I need to discuss something important with you. You are getting married.” The marriage was finalized.
But we didn’t have money for the officiant. My mother suggested to my father, “You borrow half the fee, and I’ll borrow the other half.”
I wore borrowed clothes from a friend and the marriage took place. The officiant demanded a box of sweets in addition to his fee, leaving us with just six rupees. By the time we reached our shack, only two rupees remained. I sat in the dim light of a lantern, my face veiled.
The poet (my husband) said, “I have two rupees, but my friends outside need a ride home.” I gave him the money. Then he added, “In our family, wives don’t work.” So, I gave up my job.
Our home was often filled with educated poets and critics, speaking as if they were elites. I had a thirst for knowledge, but hunger was sometimes unbearable. Every day, we cooked philosophy and ate logic.
One day, we were evicted from the shack — it wasn’t even ours. We rented half a house. I would lie on a mat, staring the walls, often feeling trapped by my ignorance.
