I reclined on the cushioned chair for the unavoidable routine,

From the corner of my eye, I saw my (wo)man-Friday reading a magazine.

She smiled to greet but made no efforts to take guard,

An assistant instead sauntered in apathetic to my heart beating hard.

Getting my eyebrows plucked is a monthly torture I subject myself to,

In spite of being habituated, the crossed threads alert the fear crew.

One strand of brow threaded extra can cost me years of repentance,

Yet, I didn’t have the heart to stall the hazard but sat in submittance.

‘Let’s give her a chance,’ I encouraged myself with my eyes shut,

In the lopsided bargain I gifted myself the painful end and a tiny cut.

From afar, in the big mirror, I saw the product of a sloppy job by the junior,

Giving instructions to clear the unattended mess seemed to be the only saviour.

Damage done was irrevocable I accepted…but with regret,

Not having the spine to express my terms left me upset.

Trust was entrusted, I moped, on an undeserving candidate,

I wondered how I easily gave away something so precious and delicate.

Anyway, the brows set themselves right in a few months all okay,

But they made me think of instances where one’s trust goes astray.

My car now sits dented in the garage after a friend borrowed it; or,

The favourite white shirt returned with a wine stain lies in my drawer.

A relative conveniently withdraws from returning my leased money,

I’d recover from these…but what about the ones that gift only agony?

A best friend spills secrets to forge new friendships higher than mine,

A partner steals the business plan to start solo taking the credit to shine.

A coach is unsure of picking between two opponents whilst coaching both,

He eventually picks a side and exploits the other’s gameplan – breaking a solemn oath.

A parent stands firm by her child who’s being falsely punished by the school,

…only to find out later that her child was the bully behind the act so cruel!

Some hurts numb away and some heartbreaks are overcome finally,

But scars forever leave a gash somewhere though life continues neutrally.

Tattooed with the scars of failed trust I may choose to stand tall bravely,

They’ll be worth to flaunt only if I learn from them and still trust fiercely!