Article Submitted by Lamiya Siraj
Featured Poem
Body Debt
I wondered why I struggled to stay fit,
Then I realized, no one taught me my body mattered one bit.
In our homes, health was never a goal,
We were raised to be safe, not whole.
To be polite, not powerful.
To earn, not to breathe.
To save money, not our knees.
To guard our name, not our spine’s ease.
We grew up on marks, manners, and marriage tales,
But no one showed us how to rest when strength fails.
No one said sugar’s a drug, or the gut keeps score,
No one taught that skipping meals shuts more than one door.
You eat what’s cooked, you sit where there’s space,
You rest only when you’ve lost the race.
Rest was laziness, exercise, time waste,
Health was a thing we fixed in haste.
Headache? Balm laga le.
Backache? Moov laga le.
Weakness? Kal theek ho jaayega.
That’s how we survived, never healed.
We feared diagnosis more than disease,
Paid for insurance, never for peace.
Won’t hire a coach, but buy a pill,
Won’t walk a mile, but chase every bill.
We wear fatigue like honor,
Boast of acidity like family drama.
Wake up tired, call it adulthood.
Neglect dressed up as “All good.”
We save receipts, cards, every rupee tight,
But forget the body that fights our fight.
We build homes, raise kids, earn fame,
But the body that carries us, never got the same.
Until one day, it screams,
The back, the breath, the dreams.
The sugar, the sleep, the pain in the knee,
All whisper: “You forgot me.”
Maybe it’s not willpower, but words we miss,
Say “I need rest,” not “I’m just tired of this.”
Say “Now,” not “Someday.”
Say “Health,” not “Delay.”
Because fitness isn’t a luxury, it’s life’s breath,
And neglect, my friend, is just slow death.
Let’s change the script before regret.
So we don’t leave our kids …. a body debt.
— Mariam Hasan Deesawala
About the Author
Mariam Hasan Deesawala is a natural storyteller whose words build worlds, draw you in, and make you care deeply before you even realise it. With an instinct for narrative and a gift for capturing the textures of everyday life, her writing moves between the intimate and the universal — making readers feel seen in the most unexpected ways.
She is the co-author of Tarannum — Vibes That Match Soul, a published poetry collection she co-authored with her longtime friend and fellow writer Tasneem Yusuf Ghadiyali. Brought together by years of friendship and a shared passion for words, the two voices complement each other beautifully — Mariam’s storytelling warmth alongside Tasneem’s lyrical depth.
The duo is currently at work on Tarannum Part 2 — the next chapter in their lyrical journey, and one that promises to go deeper into emotion, craft, and the kind of writing that stays with you long after the last page.
Book Link:
https://www.amazon.in/Tarannum-Vibes-That-Match-Soul/dp/8199393963
Website: https://inkandideaspublication.com/product/tarannum/
