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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