Radha scribbled on the walls every time

Amma called her ‘paraya'.

So, this time she wrote

‘no milk for Radha' as Amma

snatched the glass from Radha

and gave it to Raghu.

During afternoon meals,

Radha would question

Amma about the rules

of fractions she learned from

Master ji in her maths class

and scribbled on the red brick wall

‘1/4th for Radha, 3/4th for Raghu' as

Amma divided the rotis.

When Baba's tea stall went bust,

Radha was made to untie her red ribbons

and was forced out of school.

All day she would climb the mulberry trees with Malti

and at night she would scribble ‘no school for Radha'

on the same wall

while writing an essay on

girl's education for Raghu's homework.

Few years later when Baba had no money to

fight hunger, he married Radha off to a stranger

with her hair tied up

in red school ribbons.

Later, on her wedding night her mother-in-law

got almond milk for her son and

Radha scribbled ‘no milk for Radha’

Every night Radha stayed awake watching the stars and whispers

Amma's last words, “ this is not your home" and

would think of her name scribbled all over the walls of the

home.

Her home with her name, which she could never claim.