Tea with Auntie
Sip some chai, Auntie ji,
I’ve made it sweet and strong.
Folding your paan with stained fingertips,
you hum some Sindhi song.
.
Enthroned on a sofa swaddled in plastic,
A brown and fleshy sultana.
You smack your lips with relish,
While gulping down some khaana.
.
The smell of musk and talcum powder
clings to soft rolls of cellulite,
You dunk cake rusks into your chai,
slowly slurping between every bite.
.
Eat some more, beti. You’re far too thin.
Don’t waste it! Jaan, that’s a terrible sin.
Take some more rice, I’ll have some more tea.
Two sugars. Don’t forget elaichi.
.
One white hair protrudes from your chin,
Your belly-laughs move the earth,
One glistening tongue wags as you talk,
but I’m transfixed by that mighty girth.
.
You’re magnificently, fantastically round,
And anything but silent and shy,
Globs of orange spit hit the dish…
Bullseye.
.
You can be anything you want to be,
from paediatrics to oncology,
Geriatrics, cardiology…
(anything but gynecology)
.
Spill the chai, Auntie ji,
It’s bitter and it’s strong.
Add masala to your words, plenty of it,
But I promise to play along.
.
Auntie, your hands can’t sew anymore,
so you sow the seeds of scandal.
Those hands tremble, but I know you’ve walked
A pilgrimage in those sandals.
.
I’ve tried the rose water and haldi so often,
To soften, to lighten my skin,
You see, Auntie, I’m incurable.
It’s a war I just don’t think I’ll win.
.
Don’t worry, my little farishta,
I’ll find you a suitable rishta.
I know a nice boy, a very good catch,
You should get married — you’d make a fine match!
.
My rotis are more square than round,
(I’ll never find love, I think)
And I want a husband who can cook,
While I make my money through my ink.
.
Drink your chai, Auntie ji,
You’re stubborn and you’re strong.
But, maybe, many moons from now,
I’ll be singing the same song.
.
Chai = tea
Ji = a term of respect
Paan = betel leaf, stains saliva when chewed
Sultana = queen
Khaana = food
Beti = daughter, term of endearment
Jaani = my dear/darling
Elaichi = cardamom
Masala = mixed spices
Haldi = turmeric powder
Farishta = angel
Rishta = marriage proposal
Roti = flat bread
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