Yes, I Bleed

Yes I bleed, not only for those 5 days in a month

But I bleed every day since my birth

‘Ladki hui hai’ the doctor said

And I could sense the frowning face of my granny

Yes I bleed on my birth day too

I bleed when someone touches me inappropriately

While I am on my way to school

When my uncle promises me of chocolates

But little did I know I have to pay for it too

I bleed on all my days of growing up

Sometimes I bleed due to physical wounds and sometimes due to mental trauma

I bleed when I start embracing my puberty

In a hope of turning into a beautiful woman

But I never wanted the world to make me realize this

The way they look at me, the way they stare

Are they scanning me in and out and defining me as a whore?

I bleed when the trespassers whistle

When I hear cheap slangs like maal, item and Madhubala

And I can't react because I fear

I bleed when my colleague in office says ‘ye to ladki hai late tak nai ruk paygi’

When my boss asks me for a favor in return for the promotion which I deserve

Is my gender for sale like this?

Is my gender more important than my skills?

Is being woman crime?

Yes I bleed when I am travelling in a crowded metro

And someone touches me from behind

No no its not only his touch, its his weakness which he shows

A man targeting on a woman in a public place where he can't control his hormones

What a pity I feel

I bleed when a man rubs his erected penis against my ass in a bus

And I can't say a word

What will i say?

‘Bhaiya piche hato’?

Yes I did say with my bleeding heart, but what was the result?

The rest of the crowd - my fellow men and women travelers blamed me

‘Itna hai to travel in private car’

I could hear an aunty from distant ‘ye sab ladkiyo ki galti hai, dhang ke kapde pehenti to aisa na hota’

What???

Is it really my short skirt or my crop top that triggered his hormones?

If so then dear man you need to get a checkup for yourself.

I bleed when in my 60's i see my sons fighting for me

For me? Let me explain

‘Ye teri maa bhi to hai, keep her with you’

‘Meera office se late aati hai, khana time pe nai banega, keep maa with you’

This is what they fight

Yes I bleed because I did my best while they grew up

I sacrificed my career so that I could make them capable enough which they are today

I bleed because they no longer need me

And yes I bleed not only for those 5 days in a month

But I bleed everyday since my birth!!!