Countryside Couple | Maitrayee Deka

Mr and Mrs. Chappa live in a cottage 
                                         outside the city
The locals call it a bungalow, a term for anything that stood on stilts,
one of the many colonial legacies

Chappa’s house was made of concrete, 
unlike the colonial bungalows of wood and screechy floors.
It had a view of the landscape around
Mr. and Mrs. Chappa were proud of their house-
How pedestrians pay their homage through their long gazes,
                   and how their feet magically stop when they come in front of it

Of late, the electricity bills have become longer--
Continuous generator backup and air-conditioning in the summer has put a dent on the pension.
Such a beautiful house cannot do without a garden and a comfortable life.
At least that much the house deserves
                                    in the absence of guests and kins

Sometimes Mrs Chappa has bad nights,
                                      waking up to the thought of unpaid electricity bills and EMIs.
In the morning she tends to the garden and around 10’o clock she has her tea,
                                                                resting her leg in the ledge of the balcony
She admires her position of privilege,
                                 people running errands and she is a spectator in all of it
Right distance from her and them; she is glad it is the ownership of beauty 
                       that divides                                                                                                    
               

Indian Literature Review | Maitrayee Deka writes for Indian Review | The best Literary journal from India. Visit and Share