Garden by Mukta Singh-Zocchi

Little-Brother’s tummy rumbled so loud, it woke me up and I could not return to my dreams. My mind started to roam. Things in life happen for a reason – I was thinking, people often say this. No one ever asked me what I think for I too have some wisdom to impart.

As a matter of fact, I have a lot to say about many things.

For instance, the heat was oppressive some days back. Our throats were scratchy all the time. Tongues curled up in our dry little mouths and Little-Brother kept emitting shrill cries deep into the night. Others in the neighborhood were crying too. The night air was filled with many such cries, still each time Little-Brother cried Mama would pull him underneath her.

“Hush,” she would chirp. “They’ll hear you.” She would nose him gently while he suckled her dry teat.

Then it got sultry. Like this morning was sultry. We learned quickly to grab the dew to quench our thirst. Sweet fragrances swamped the air this morning. Huddled in our nest under a canopy of spry bougainvillea branches, I had taken to stretching my neck and drinking them through my nose. Ah, if only scents could fill the tummy!