Why ?

At the age of six,

I've been taught by my father that

Smoking is a bad habit. 

When I had asked him "Why?" , 

He had explained that it was injurious to health.

At night, I had seen him piercing lit cigarette butts

Into my mother's arms and

Puff out smoke onto her face. 

When I had asked him "Why? ,

He had justified his act as teaching a lesson.

When I was eight, 

My uncle had taught me

To talk in a tone that was polite. 

When I had asked him "Why?" , 

He had answered that it marked our upbringing.

At dinner, I heard my uncle 

Shouting at his wife and

Slapping her tight. 

When I had asked him "Why?",

He had answered that she deserved it. 

When I was ten, 

My cousin had sneaked into my room

And told about the new game 

He had learnt from the internet. 

I had protested him for it did hurt,

But he had grabbed me by my hair and silenced me.

When I had asked him "Why?", 

He had commanded not to question but keep my mouth shut. 

When I was fifteen, 

My teacher had proudly declared 

Equal education for everyone. 

When I had asked her "Why?", 

She had answered that it was everyone's birthright. 

That afternoon after returning home, 

My father had declared 

That I was no more attending school,

and ordered me to stay at home.

When I had asked him "Why?",

He had answered that girls don't need education. 

When I was eighteen, 

I was married off to a guy double my age.

When I asked them "Why?" , 

They had answered that girls were supposed to be married off early.

At night, when I had asked my husband about love, 

He had thrown me onto the bed and made me

Feel something which was painful. 

When I had asked him "Why?", 

He had answered, that's what love is. 

When I was nineteen, 

One night my husband had come home drunk 

And had beat me hard with his belt. 

When I had asked him "Why?", 

He had answered that I could not fulfil his desires. 

When I was twenty, 

I complained about my husband to my family.

They had advised me to keep it

Restricted to the four walls of my bedroom. 

When I had asked them "Why?" , 

They had further advised me to keep him satisfied.

When I was twenty-one,

I felt the tiny heart 

Beating inside my belly.

And the next day,

My mother-in-law forced me for abortion.

When I asked her "Why?",

She had answered that the family

Needed a male to continue their age-old legacy.

When I was twenty one , 

I escaped with my daughter 

Growing inside me. 

When my brain asked me "Why?", 

The stains of tears on my cheek,

And the red marks on my body 

Had become the answer. 

Now, 

My daughter is six. 

And I'm writing this,

Not because I'm regretting,

But because I want her not to ask any "Why?" anymore.