The untouchables

The old ,

The widows living a life 

As if residing in prisons 

Yes ,I had witnessed a group of them

Going back as they were

After prayers In Mathura from a temple 

To their abode 

Which was an ill lit building

Bald heads ,white sarees

Spelling their doomed state 

I tried to start a conversation

But they had nothing to say 

Giving me a vacant look

They walked away 

One of them 

Seemed to have some life left

I approached her

And she softly related 

The hardships they faced

As they remained caged

To the mercy of few moneyed

Who used them 

And their conditions 

To convert their funds

To charitable trusts ….

Dr Archana Tandon