Roots

I surrender my crown to her fingertips–
generational dances in synchrony, 
she combs through my hair, making landing strips
for stovetop heated oil. 

Tracing the landscape of my scalp, 
punctuated with coconut, 
she finds Adhipati. 

Chasing my childhood coconut oil 
dripping down the nape of my neck, 
eyes shut - bliss. 

Tying braids tight 
weaving old stories, whispers from Nani
A middle part of East vs. West, 
hyphenating Indian and American.

From the author: The practice of hair oil has been passed down for generations in South Asian culture. Now seeing its rise in popularity in the western world, following in the footsteps of yoga and chai, I want to celebrate its original roots and explore what it symbolizes in South Asian culture - an act of generational love.

Simran Malhotra is a third year medical student at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She graduated with a Creative Writing minor from Cornell in May 2020. In her spare time, you can find her at Da Capo, latte in hand, writing poetry to decompress from her days at the hospital.