THE INKING SOULS COMMUNITY

Words entrusted
to us.

Community poems, lived experience and the conversations that continue beneath Inking Souls posts.

Community and anonymous voices Inking Souls writing and replies

COMMUNITY SUBMISSIONS FROM INSTAGRAM

Words shared with us.

POEM · FROM INSTAGRAM

Your eyes

Windows to the soul, where passion appears.

Your eyes, like dark pool, deep and divine,

Invite me to drown, in your sacred shrine.

With every glance, a spark takes flight,

Igniting desires, that burn through the night.

Your gaze, a gentle caress, that soothes my heart,

A deep connection, that draws me in.

Like sapphires shining bright, in the morning dew,

Your eyes, a treasure trove, of secrets anew.

Their mystery, that lures me to explore,

The hidden depths, of their passionate score.

A work of art, that forever will be mine.

— Anonymous

VOICES FROM THE CIRCLE

Poems shared with care.

Held with respect.
Credited as requested.

01POEM

Who Says I Do Not Work?

Since childhood,

I have kept an art corner—

a sacred space

where I could sit quietly,

through play and study,

through fights and forgiveness,

through love blossoming

and hearts breaking,

through vows whispered

at a wedding altar,

through the miracle

of giving life,

through the silence of solitude,

through the storm of chaos.

My art was always there—

not only in the corner of a room,

but nestled deep

in a corner of my heart,

in the quiet corners

of my home.

A constant companion.

A quiet devotion.

A life’s work—

even when no one saw.

— Nadia Tufail Bhatti

02POEM · HINDI · VERAMAE COMMUNITY

आईना

आज आईना मुझसे सवाल पूछने लगा…

‘कैसी हो?’ ‘कैसे बीते ये साल?’

मेरे पास कोई जवाब नहीं था… लेकिन शायद

आईने को जवाबों की ज़रूरत भी नहीं थी।

वो मेरी ख़ामोशी पढ़ रहा था… मेरे हर एहसास को समझ रहा था।

मैंने नज़रें झुका लीं… हाथों में कंघी उठाई…

और अपने उलझे हुए बालों को सुलझाने लगी।

तभी आईने ने मेरे बीते सालों की पूरी कहानी दिखा दी…

चेहरे पर आई झाइयाँ… आँखों के नीचे उतर आई थकान…

होठों पर जमी सूखी पपड़ी…

गालों पर रह गए दाग… और सबसे गहरे…

दिल में जलती हुई वो आग…

आईना जैसे कह रहा था—

‘तुमने इन सालों में किसी और को पाने की कोशिश में…

खुद को ही खो दिया।

अपनी पसंद… अपनी मुस्कान… अपने सपने…

अपनी पहचान… सब धीरे-धीरे मिटा दिए।

आज तुम वो नहीं रहीं… जो कभी हुआ करती थीं।

और सबसे बड़ा दर्द ये है… कि आज तुम वही बन गई हो…

जो तुम कभी बनना ही नहीं चाहती थीं।’

मैंने फिर एक बार खुद को देखा…

और पहली बार महसूस हुआ— मुझे दुनिया से नहीं…

सबसे पहले खुद से मिलना है।

अगर आईना आज सच दिखा रहा है…

तो शायद अभी भी देर नहीं हुई।

खुद को फिर से पाने की शुरुआत आज भी की जा सकती है।

राधे राधे

— Parveen Lata Agnihotri

03POEM · HINDI

Kaise

Kaise log theek ho jaate hain,

waapas duniya mein kho jaate hain?

Kya kabhi raaton ko

dil se awaaz nahin aati—

ki log,

logon ki achchai ko

kamzori samajh lete hain…

— Inking Souls Community

REFLECTIONS FROM INKING SOULS

What the official story leaves out.

Original words and lived context.
Always held in pink.

01INSTAGRAM REFLECTION · OFFICE AFFAIR

When intensity is mistaken for work.

“If there are intense fights in the office between a new subordinate and your husband, who is her boss, it means the affair is intense—not the work.”

THE STORY BEHIND THE QUOTE

A colleague once told me, “Ma’am, they are not having an affair. Do you know how intensely they fight? I have to pull them away from each other. Sometimes I thought they would screw up the company.”

— Inking Souls

COMMENTS FROM INSTAGRAM

The conversation continues.

Original comments stay ivory.
Inking Souls replies are pink.

NORMALISATION & MINIMISATIONRead the conversations that make betrayal sound common, inevitable or too small to name.

18INSTAGRAM EXCHANGE · MOTHERHOOD AND SELF-CARE

When a mother's work disappears from the story.

“Mujhe aap sirf yeh batao—itne videos bana kar kya hua? Kya woh badal gaya? Kya woh sudhar gaya? Same happens to me. Par sabka apna tareeka hai. Accept karo, meditate karo, please; warna pagal ho jaogi. Woh toh gaya. Apne bete ka socho; uska future mat spoil karo. Tum maa ho. Apna pyaar do use—woh kis se kahega? Tum toh keh leti ho. Uska socho.
Aur tumhara husband ghatiya hai, lekin tumne use yeh allow kiya hai ki woh tumhare saath aisa kare. Sirf teen mahine use ignore karo. Khud par work karo. Beautiful bano, baal cut karvao, dye karo, sundar bano, aur usse totally baat band karo. Koi baat nahin—please, bete ka socho.”
— Anonymous · Message from Instagram

INKING SOULS RESPONDS
“Thank you for your message. I agree with many of your points, but I disagree with many too. I was caring for my son and homeschooling him, and that was a big responsibility.
What do you mean by ‘care for yourself’? Isn't caring for my son and my home also caring for myself?”
— Inking Souls

16INSTAGRAM EXCHANGE · ATTACHMENT

When attachment is called weakness.

“You know how dare these people talk like this? Because you are weak, be strong, girl, you see how things will change for you.”
— Anonymous · Comment from Instagram

INKING SOULS RESPONDS
“I do not know if I am weak or more emotional or more involved or attached to my marriage. Maybe people with less attachment would move on faster. But here I am.”
— Inking Souls

17INSTAGRAM EXCHANGE · PROVIDING AND BETRAYAL

When providing is treated as permission.

“It's like saying: if a woman gives birth to his children and does all the duties expected of a wife, should she then be allowed to have affairs outside the marriage?
Is marriage only about performing as though it is a job, while living entirely your own way otherwise?”
— Anonymous · Comment from Instagram

INKING SOULS RESPONDS
“Exactly. Men change the meaning of marriage for their convenience. It becomes: ‘I provide for you—can't I have an affair? And I'm still a good husband because at least I'm not leaving.’”
— Inking Souls

01INSTAGRAM COMMENT · ENCOURAGEMENT

“Stay strong, girl. Marriage is a part of life, not your whole life. You are much more than this.”

— Anonymous

02INSTAGRAM COMMENT · BOUNDARIES

A thought worth passing on.

“If someone’s husband comes to you crying about his wife’s problems, instead of giving him your shoulder to cry on, give him a counsellor’s number.”
— @likearchana

INKING SOULS RESPONDS
“And if a woman comes to a married man with her problems, he should give her a counsellor’s number too.”
— Inking Souls

★

03 · INSTAGRAM COMMENTSELF RELIANCE · COMMUNITY

A call to choose ourselves.

Men don't respect women...agar aap 16 saal ki bhi hoti tho aapko respect nahin karega. Aapko kya lagta hai, jo aadmi affair (young girls kyunki usko biwi so called buddhi ho gayi hai) se karta hai woh love aur respect se karta hai, a big NO NO. THEY EXIST TO FULFILL THEIR NEEDS. When we as women, know this universal truth...what are we doing except wasting our time wanting love, appreciation and admiration from men.
It was never a partnership from day 1 of the Earth's existence. What God wants from us is to understand this, be self reliant, self sufficient and have tremendous amount of self respect. It's high time we work towards our needs and wants.
We don't need to fall in this trap of marriage and kids anymore. It is not in our FAVOUR. It's high time we become practical and have pre nuptial clauses in our marriage. It is for our safety and security so that the man doesn't leave us and our kids high and dry.
Additionally, I feel the best thing going forward for us women is to create a community, live together, be independent, raise cats and adopt kids. 🐱🙂 For what are we suffering and putting our mental and physical health at risk?

— Anonymous

07INSTAGRAM EXCHANGE · VICTIM BLAMING

When ageing is blamed for betrayal.

“Itna over thinking kar rahi ho. Kabhi ye nahi socha ki husband k samne buddi ban kar na rahu. Acche ban kar raho dusra option nahi dekhenge wo fir.”
— Anonymous · Comment from Instagram

INKING SOULS RESPONDS
“Yes, you are so right. It is all my mistake. I am very sorry for him and his lover. But I wonder why she was cheating on her husband. He was not old. He is young like her.”
— Inking Souls

08INSTAGRAM EXCHANGE · ACCOUNTABILITY

Who carries the responsibility?

“Hoti h kuch bakwas girls office m kya kare... husband should scold her then n there for doing so.”
— Anonymous · Comment from Instagram

INKING SOULS RESPONDS
“He was having relations with her for the past four years. She is not to be blamed. It is my husband.”
— Inking Souls

09INSTAGRAM EXCHANGE · FORCED EXIT

When leaving is made to look like her choice.

“Apki baton de lagta hai he’s bringing you to the brink where you yrself say to him that I don’t want to live with you and after that he’s a free bird!”
— Anonymous · Comment from Instagram

INKING SOULS RESPONDS
“Yes, exactly. He mentioned that in one of his WhatsApp messages long ago, when he stormed out of the house and later sent a long WhatsApp message mostly praising himself and saying that, if I wanted to live separately, all my financial needs would be taken care of.”
— Inking Souls

11INSTAGRAM EXCHANGE · CAREGIVING

When devotion is mistaken for ignorance.

“Ma’am, you are married for 26 years. The day he stopped involving you in his life was after five years of marriage, which means you would have known that there was something wrong back then. I wish that when we women find the red flags in men, we could take a stand for ourselves, because all these things show their faces in our daily lives and we tend to ignore them. 😢”
— Anonymous · Comment from Instagram

INKING SOULS RESPONDS
“You are right, but it was not my mistake. We had an agreement: he went out, and I took care of our child, who was frail because he was born prematurely. I committed myself to his care and to keeping the house.
I cooked from scratch, homeschooled him, taught him everything, and took great care of his health. Then, slowly over the years, my husband started loathing me—very subtly at first, and then openly. Last year was the cruellest.
He denied having an affair, calling me crazy and a dirty thinker. Then I finally found the evidence. But it wasn’t just evidence; I discovered the whole strategy and the people who had teamed up against me.”
— Inking Souls

12INSTAGRAM EXCHANGE · APPEARANCE

When clothing is blamed for betrayal.

“Didi, sari sindoor me raha karo. Vese rahogi to bhag hi jaayega na.”
— Anonymous · Comment from Instagram

INKING SOULS RESPONDS
“You mean to say that women who wear sarees and sindoor don’t get betrayed? 😂”
— Inking Souls

14INSTAGRAM EXCHANGE · UNPAID WORK

When unpaid work is called dependency.

“Marriage is not the problem. The problem is dependency. After marriage women become dependent on man for almost everything. Children are not only women's responsibility; it's equal to men as well. Be financially independent even after marriage and don't give birth if both parents can't raise the child equally. Don't compromise your career, friends, family, hobbies, finance in the name of marriage. If you do, you face these kinds of consequences. It's human psychology to keep changing and if you change for others' good, you lose.”
— Anonymous · Comment from Instagram

INKING SOULS RESPONDS
“Human psychology is to keep changing? As if only women who go outside the home work? As if I haven’t worked at home so he could build his career, while I cooked, cleaned, raised and, importantly, homeschooled his child.
He was absent for almost a month at a time, for two weeks at a time, and on many weekends. Most days, he came home after midnight. Who worked at home?
Marriage is supposed to mean being together and building our life together. He is the one who left.”
— Inking Souls

“I feel sorry for what you are going through. But people change and you have experienced it closely. Why are you still expecting him to be good to you? Ask yourself why he cheated. Being a good wife—everyone wants one. What is the definition of a good wife? It's you. But is it enough? NO.
Focus on yourself; self-love is more important. Women in India, after marriage, pour all their devotion towards others and forget themselves. You did everything to make him and the family happy. But are you happy? Did you do anything in all these years for yourself? You will change too. Change is constant.”
— Anonymous · Comment from Instagram

INKING SOULS RESPONDS
“Change is constant, so why marry? Just change wives every three, four or five years—and disclose before marriage that this is who you are. Why fuck up my life?”
— Inking Souls

15INSTAGRAM EXCHANGE · BLAME

When betrayal is blamed on both partners.

“मैम, ताली दो हाथों से बजती है। इसका भी ख्याल रखना चाहिए।”
“Ma’am, it takes two hands to clap. You should keep that in mind too.”
— Anonymous · Comment from Instagram

INKING SOULS RESPONDS
“Yes, I am responsible for his cheating because I am not perfect. Maybe he did not get enough sex at home, or maybe I nagged or was too loud for the poor boy. So, instead of talking it out like a mature man, he stomped off into the arms of his lover.
And mind you—as if he is perfect and has no defects. He can manufacture Everest-high defects in me now that he has been caught. Very convenient. A sorry excuse for a man.”
— Inking Souls

WISDOM FROM LIVED EXPERIENCE

This helped me.

Not commandments. Not universal answers. Just women sharing something that made one difficult day, decision or season a little easier.

Share what helped

WHAT BELONGS HERE

01
A boundary that protected your peace.
02
A practical habit that helped you feel steadier.
03
A resource that helped you understand or prepare.
04
A small ritual that brought you back to yourself.

Offer it as experience: “This helped me.” Another woman can decide whether it may help her too.

SHARE YOUR WRITING

Submit a poem.

Your words can sit here too. Choose “A poem” below, or share a short reflection, a recovery story, a question for the circle or something that helped you. Submissions come to us privately and are never published automatically.

Published voices belong to
Inking Souls Community

Words entrustedto us.

Words shared with us.

Your eyes

Poems shared with care.

Who Says I Do Not Work?

आईना

Kaise

What the official story leaves out.

When intensity is mistaken for work.

The conversation continues.

When a mother's work disappears from the story.

When attachment is called weakness.

When providing is treated as permission.

A thought worth passing on.

A call to choose ourselves.

When ageing is blamed for betrayal.

Who carries the responsibility?

When leaving is made to look like her choice.

When devotion is mistaken for ignorance.

When clothing is blamed for betrayal.

When unpaid work is called dependency.

When betrayal is blamed on both partners.

This helped me.

Submit a poem.

Words entrusted
to us.