Its a week since we moved in here br strange place, stranger people br The fear of the unknown br mingle with the lightness of the great escape br br The sounds of the latest soaps br drown the cooker's whistle br Even at ten there is laughter next door br Not able to hit a nail to hang the mosquito curtains br we give up and light a coil br Sleep eludes. Tossing and turning br finally when my eyes give in... br br Suddenly a woman's wail br Stifling words held tight behind the br end of a sari stuffed into the mouth br Its surely a man's voice coming forth br the clenched teeth br Was it my imagination, br that thud of pushing? br br Sleep forgotten br I try to figure out the source br of the wail br Peep out of the window br To be mocked by the dark br br Who could it be? br One from the opposite house or br the next door neighbour or br the one upstairs? br br Before I could find out br it stopped as abruptly as it had started br Was it a hand that put out the wailing or..... br br like me, did she also brush aside the hand br and walk out, never to return? br Did she learn to walk with steps bleeding on this dark night, br to reach a new destination br where she could breathe freely? br br I dont know br but the stifled midnight wail of a woman br that stopped abruptly br haunts me to this day.