From dadi’s home
Manahil Bandukwala writes and paints in Ottawa while completing her undergrad in English at Carleton University. She is an editor for In/Words Magazine & Press and curates In/Words’ monthly reading series. Her work has appeared in Bywords, Existere, and ottawater, among others. She has work forthcoming with Room Magazine, Ricepaper Magazine, and Coven Editions among others. Find her work on instagram @manahil_art.
Burned toes on scalding tea when you carried
tray laden with chai, cinnamon scents left
to boil on stove. Sleep surrounded
by stuffed toys kept at twenty: dog bigger than
a baby, three (sewn) sock monkeys, (beanie) bear,
bear (in a graduation cap), (regifted) snow leopard,
(sewn) bird. Blown out candle smoke carries you
to dreams when the light goes out. Find food
(dadi’s haleem) in freezer amidst ice-cream
and sandwiches. Eat with (store-bought)
garlic naan: maa ka haath ka khana ki tarha
kisi aur cheez nahi hai.[1] Mehndi cone propped
against (half-used) pens. Dadi calls and says,
khabi dadi ki yaad karo, kabhi ghar ki yaad karo.[2]
[1] there’s nothing like food cooked by your mother’s hand.
[2] remember dadi (paternal grandmother) sometimes, remember home sometimes.
Manahil Bandukwala writes and paints in Ottawa while completing her undergrad in English at Carleton University. She is an editor for In/Words Magazine & Press and curates In/Words’ monthly reading series. Her work has appeared in Bywords, Existere, and ottawater, among others. She has work forthcoming with Room Magazine, Ricepaper Magazine, and Coven Editions among others. Find her work on instagram @manahil_art.