Chikku

by Srila Munukutla

Case Western Reserve University

Srila Munukutla is a student at Case Western Reserve University, originally from Chicago. She is majoring in medical anthropology with minors in creative writing and biology, and will graduate in Spring 2027. She writes poetry and short fiction, and performs spoken word exploring themes of community, memory, and cultural identity rooted in her Indian heritage. Her work has appeared in Lodestar Lit Volume IV and Case Reserve Review. 

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tangles

tendrils spill over the tub’s edge 
thick, black, curling back into itself 
slick with water 
it glimmers between weathered hands  

scrubbing it clean behind her 

perched on the stool, strong whiffs of coconut  

waft from her marinated scalp 

loving palms press slow circles 

the oil painting velvety streaks  

down the middle part onto the porcelain tiles  

worn plastic teeth 

bite, chew, swallow the knots— 

stubborn strands  

whisper protests 

sharp against her fingers 

tugging harshly 

3 strands side by side 

one over, three over, two over 

one over, three over, two over 

one over, three over, two over 

they climb over one another  

growing longer with each crossing 

past the stomach, past the waist, resting heavily at the hips 

she ties her ribbon the way she once wore it— 

tied tight, then twice more 

an impenetrable fortress  

warding off flyaways 

one day the comb passes 

to smaller hands 

nervous among  

the newly cut strands  
too short to braid 

but her fingers  

patiently work through the chikku 

as weathered hands have always done. 

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