In a city name Mira,
children are raised with a token –
each good deed earns one,
each failure costs one.
When tokens run out, the gates close,
and the unloved are cast out.
Somewhere,
A beautiful garden with a house in between;
Out side, is a beautiful garden, There's
A massive Jackfruit tree stands tall,at top a baboon mother watches the orange sunrise; eyes fixed on something far away.
At bottom, her babies – free, wild, laughing in their own language & playing.
Nearby a pair of Koel singing for each other from opposite branches.
while butterflies drawn by nectar,
unaware of the world's rules.
The garden smells of ripe mangoes; the slow decay of summer
While inside the home –
Child (softly) :
You said you'd always love me.
Parent :
I always do.
Child :
That's not the same.
Parent :
No.
(pauses)
The koels voice drifts again with it comes the sound of puja bell from somewhere far away.
Parent (voice low) :
You don't know what it costs - to love someone who won't stop breaking.
when every token costs a part of your soul.
Child:
Maybe I'm not the only one who's broken.
It's human.
Outside, A jackfruit falls with a thud,
Landing on fry leaves, rolling in garden mud.
The mother gathers her babies tight,
And climbs the tree, out of the sight.
A lone butterfly taps at the windowpane
Inside, no one moves as no heart is whole.