Adalaj

I descend, down to the lowest level.

Lizzy is by the well, waiting for me.

She twirls her sari.  "I am no devil--

I'll show you whatever you want to see."


Me: "Tell me what happened to Rudabai,

Widowed when Begada killed her rana,

Rather than marry him she plunged to die

where you stand.  Did she attain Nirvana?"


Her: "I'll look her up.  She'll be on my phone.

Yes, there she is.  Begada is there, too.

You can see them.  I hear him moan.

She's stabbed out his eyes with a spike-heeled shoe."


"The myth's wrong.  In truth, Rudabai chose Hell.

She killed him and never jumped in the well."


[Adalaj stepwell, Adalaj, Gujarat, 7-17-24]

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