Ruby Gupta’s underwear was still wet on the day
of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. While collecting
the laundry, hung to dry on the terrace, Ruby Gupta
had noticed – the other clothes were dry,
just the underwear was still wet. She was terrified.
Whenever her underwear doesn’t dry,
something terrible happens somewhere.

Sometimes I think of her – Ruby Gupta –
who lives in a large house from a novel,
Nobody knows of the connection
between her underwear and the tragedies of the world.
She cannot even share this with anyone.
Her undergarments remain wet for days
and there are earthquakes, volcano eruptions,
Tsunamis, and killings. She cannot even carry on
without wearing or washing them.
In childhood, her mother instructed:
Never wear day-old knickers under your clothes.

Now, Ruby Gupta has just one concern,
Whether her undergarments are dry or not.
On rainy days, she dries them with an iron –
Her undying attempt to save the world.