Remember? Poem by Nidhi Jha

Remember I was a girl,
Born with a blush on my cheeks,
Brought up being told fairy tales?
Remember I was a girl,
My mother's companion when in her womb,
My father's honor even before I was born?
Remember I was a girl,
A brother's responsibility with the first day at school,
A sister's friend with the first hug given?
Remember I was a girl,
A teacher's hope with the first trophy won,
A neighborhood's favorite with the first recipe served?
Remember I was a girl,
Ashamed with the sound of the first whistle,
Embarrassed with the comments I heard?
Remember I was a girl,
Hated myself with the first unwanted touch,
Hated the world with the first sight of the penetrating eyes?
Remember I was a girl,
Asked to dress properly when teased on road,
Restricted from walking with my held high?
Remember I was a girl,
Cried to sleep with the first insulting laugh,
Asked to change my paths when followed?
Remember I was a girl,
Hurt myself when you called me with dirty names,
Reminded its a man's world on my rebelling?
Remember I was a girl,
Asked to give up my mobile on unwanted calls,
Called a black sheep when tried not to give up?
Remember I was a girl,
Called guilty by another girl of 'attracting' people,
Turned a joke when those I respected called me with disgusting names?
Remember I was a girl,
You saw on a bus stop, in a restaurant, on my terrace
And showed me your superiority?
Remember?
No you might have forgotten.
But how could I?
For from that day you have become my worst nightmare.
I walk and I look around with frightened eyes,
I smile and I am reminded of the frustrating times.
Yes I am that next door girl for whom no candle was lighted.
I am that girl for whom no one cried.
Yes I am that girl who could actually become free only after she died.