Gender discrimination and sad story of a poor village girl prompted this write
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At the bus station,
She stood nondescript
Staring into space.
Wearing a long skirt,
And a loose kurta.
A well worn red scarf,
Draped around her head.
An old man arrived
And stood beside her.
She shuddered and moved
To the other side.
Surprised, he stared back.
She retied her scarf
To cover her face.
Confused, he wondered
Why she behaved so.
Then buried himself
In his newspaper,
Until a strong wind
Raised her skirt quite high.
And blew the paper
Though she clutched her skirt,
He was shocked to see
The deep red bruises
On her shapely legs.
She had been attacked,
An explanation
Perhaps for her fear.
How could he reach out
To help this poor girl,
Without scaring her?
He mulled for a while
Over the matter...
Child - be not afraid,
He gently called out.
This time he saw her
Wipe tears with the scarf.
She had been sobbing.
One side of her face
Was terribly scarred.
I am done with men,
Was all she could say.
Another sad victim -
Sacrificed for greed,
Sold by her father,
To a rich old man,
Added to his harem,
Scalded and beaten
Into submission.
Today she managed,
To disguise herself,
In a maid's clothing
And make her escape.
Her final attempt
To run far away,
To make a new life.