some men who surrounded me
by Neha Maqsood
some men who surrounded me
karachi’s men are like trail
mix – a
wide variety.
motorcycle men who smugly exhale a
‘mashallah!’
as they pass you by. beedy eyes dangling
just below the
neckline. (i wish I could stuff that mashallah
back in his mouth, reserve it for his wife)
men openly masturbating to women
running errands
going to school
purchasing makai. (i hope in the next life you’re
castrated)
men in crowded Sunday bazaars
grope
your sister and her friend. (i wish you prayed to God
with those hands. possibly ask for guidance while you’re at
it)
old men on WhatsApp who forward degrading ‘wife jokes’ or
images of women in compromising positions. i wish your daughters hadn’t
checked their mothers’ phones. daddy's just like
other men, they thought.
men who practically amputate your arm
as they take
your parking ticket. (i will slice your radial artery
before you take me into your world)
men who invite you on their bicycles with
leering gazes and dirty thoughts. (i’ll push you off and ride off into the
sunset)
men are like trail mix – get the
whole package, toss out the
distasteful ones.
* Mashallah – praise be to God
* Makai – corn on the cob
Neha Maqsood
Neha Maqsood is a journalist who has written for multiple publications ranging from but not limited to, the Tempest, Media Diversified, Brown Girl Magazine, Rife Magazine, Epigram, The Uni Bubble and That’s What She Said. For her efforts in tackling discrimination against People of Colour (POC) and increasing South Asian representation, she was listed as the 100 Most Influential BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) people in South-West England and was nominated for a UK National Diversity Award. She also starred in the 2018 film, Sisters in Arms, which premiered at multiple international film festivals in Toronto, Los Angeles, London, Kerry and Dingle.