when he said Darling
he didn’t ask for a paisa for anything
but when he said Marry Me
he asked for gold
money
stuff
plates and pots
everything
aiyo he even asked for a broom
to sweep the floor
I said
the broom’s the limit
he got up and asked why
I said
so I can sweep you from my heart
and toss you in the trash
paying a life-subscription
just to get a male hooker
what am I
half-crazy
or a total fool
Translated from the Tamil by Martha Ann Selby and K. Paramasivan