Love, Yours Smriti

Hustling through the polluted air,

The traffic and utter despair,

Mohit made his way into the bus,

Where people were standing crowded and in a rush!

He was no different on the outside,

9 to 5 job on weekdays and weekends with a book on the bedside.

Within his heart buried was a story,

A story of despair, dismay, more than a heart could carry!

Mohit was the brother of Smriti,

A sister he adored and was a true beauty.

They were inseparable as siblings,

Were each others darlings.

Like every Indian Moms his mom too wanted,

To Marry off Smriti at "rightful age" before people taunted.

And with that begun the hunt for the right groom,

Who would love his sister and like a rose their relation would bloom.

It was not long when came along Aman,

His degree, money, status and caste (of course! Duh!)

Made his mom say, "He is the one!"

The dates were set and preparations made to marry,

But on the day of occasion groom's father asked for dowry!

30 Lacs is what he asked for,

If they failed they would walk out the door.

Smriti knew nothing of the exchange of money

For her it was a grand wedding, worries weren't any.

The money was arranged and the marriage happened,

They kept it a secret as they did not want her to be saddened.

After a year of their marriage

Mohit received a message.

It was from Aman saying to come and pick up

His sister who was now for them a hiccup!

He had not seen his sister in over a year,

After reading the text he turned pale with fear.

He rushed to Aman's place, a journey which took him a night,

When he reached there, Aman along with his family was

absconding after his sister was set alight!

There was investigation and cases pending,

His sister was dead, no matter what, there is no mending.

Despair and distraught, Mohit was feeling fiery

When suddenly the police handed him a diary.

It was his sister's he knew her handwriting,

The diary was a collection of all tortures she endured and the fighting!.

Last date of entry was the day prior to his arrival,

It was a testament of how she failed the fight of survival!

She was not burnt, she had committed suicide,

After her husband had hit her which led to her feticide.

The last entry was a suicide note to her brother,

Whom she loved more than father or mother.

In the note she said, "Sorry,"

For my sake you had to pay so much dowry!

I know you hid it for my sake,

But make sure these animals are punished before my wake!

They hit me,punch me and taunt me for days,

I fought, I did, but they will never change their ways.

If I knew, Aman married me for cash,

I would have left the alter there wouldn't have been any clash!

I always loved my family you knew that very well,

But I guess due to your love for me you could not realise

- it was a transaction made with hell.

After I am dead I will rest in peace

Only if you keep your words of protecting me please!

Punish these monsters who murdered my baby without any pity.

Love, yours Smriti."

It was 7 years and justice was still not served,

Freedom and anonymity is not what those monsters deserved.

Every Rakshabandhan, to protect her he had swore

And that's what kept his wounds still sore.