Scarecrow

By Sanskriti Arora

They all stared at the wires

hung high in the sky. Her body swaying in the wind, like a warning.

Her red saree, her aalta, stained

red as always. The brightest of reds against the brightest of blue skies.

The black wire was wrapped around

her neck.

Crows surrounded her.

It was time for dance class. And they

were called in by the man.

The girls put a red stained hand on Katyayani’s shoulder.

Please take us away from here.

She looked behind her as they all

formed a single line, all with their red

fingertips squeezing each other’s shoulders.

They knew it was not human, whoever had done this.

Who could

hang her this high?

A beast.

By Sanskriti Arora