Being Hindu

Image Courtesy: Pixels

Being Hindu was
Opening my lunch box
When the school bell rang
And sharing pork sausages
With Ahamed who sat on the same bench

Being Hindu was
Not knowing how to light a lamp
Fall on my knees
Or press my forehead to the ground

Being Hindu was
Sleeping in the same room
Where framed pictures of glittering Gods hung
While the blood that made me woman
Flowed out of me

Being Hindu was
Knowing there is no heaven
No hell
No sin
No sacred commandment
No sermon
No confession
And no God damn holy book
Except to seek the divine
In me and everyone else

The other day
I wiped off the sandalwood paste on my forehead
Because it stank of cow dung

Meera Nair is a poet, dancer, actor, writer and media person. Her short stories and poems have been published in various journals. Her first book of poems won her the second place at the Muse India Young Writers Award 2015. Her most recent book is Poetry Vending Machine.