Hunger

So here’s the thing:

Women don't feel hungry.

One hears, in fact,

That among some

The culture of skipping tea and breakfast,

And going straight for brunch,

Is #trending.

Look at my grandmother, for example,

In that day and age too

She must have been so obsessive about her figure that

Despite having cooked pots of food

For a joint family of many,

She and other women of the household

Would only have starch water.

Just as in clothes, in food, as well,

Women want to have something "different",

Something unique,

Compared to what the rest of the family has.

It is not unusual

To find on their plates

These varied styles:

Un-round, burnt rotis

Broken pancakes

Residual potatoes of the potato-pea curry . . .

Why on earth did they then nag their husbands

To bring the veggies

They never planned on having themselves?

Take my word for it,

All that attracts them

Are those advertised

Fingerlickin’ goods on TV.

They even mix with the family’s ration

The extra grain they get from the government

During their pregnancy.

Neither local or international news

Can hold their interest.

The only question they want their men to answer is:

“What should I cook today?”

(If men made a joke

On having to eat bhindi every day,

Or got a little pissed

And threw around

A few plates,

Does that mean

They have no concern in the world,

Apart from food?)

xxx

Come to think of it,

It may not be a bad thing,

That women do not feel hungry.

Because when they are hungry,

They become witches.

Depending on their religion,

They start feasting on infants,

Hogging young, juicy hearts,

Or going straight for the kill

And gulping down warm blood.

Those who call themselves intellectuals,

And criticise religion,

Do not comprehend -

Much intelligence has been invested

In religions.

To safeguard people

Against this all-consuming hunger of women,

Religion has made rules

Requiring women to fast regularly.

So that,

Eventually,

They are able to grow indifferent

Towards food,

So that,

In case anyone asks,

They are always able to reply,

“No, I am not hungry at all.”

First published in The Daily Geba/Foods Politics and Cultures Project, Nov 2017.