I wrote this poem in 2018 in the aftermath of eight-year old Asifa Bano's brutal sexual assault and murder case. It is a statistical reality that emerges from a deeply-rooted patriarchal mindset that uses honour, rape and fear as weapons to silence women.
At the time, writing this poem offered me a way to release my anger and anguish against the Indian society and its inherent prejudices. It became my vehicle to convey within international audiences what living in India often means for countless girls and women and why living in fear is often the best-case scenario. This poem found its way to Singapore's literary scenes not once but twice, when I re-narrated this piece at Spoke&Bird's 2021 poetry evening.
You can watch the full piece on my YouTube channel.