Kalpita Poem by Sanyukta Dharmadhikari

Kalpita sat naked in front of her three foot long dressing table mirror. She ran a hand over her twisted neck and face. Thirteen months ago, hot chemical burnt away her bronze skin leaving behind scars and hospital bills. Now she sat in front of the mirror, looking at herself. The face that the ‘visiting party’ would look at. She slowly wore her clothes, wincing a little when her hand touched her face. It still felt foreign.

***

Kalpita sat in her wedding saree with women bustling around her. Someone handed her bangles, someone handed her lipstick. A girl made up her hair.
Kalpita looked at her scars.
“Wear them with pride, ” he had said. “You shall be a role model.”
And now she was to be his wife.
Kalpita looked sideways into her three foot long dressing table mirror. She straightened up. A smile spread on her lips. She looked beautiful.