Leftovers


I was wondering

should I eat veg

or non-veg?


The next minute,

I noticed 

a few old women

wearing

threadbare, tattered sarees

with frayed edges—

bearing the weight of their years.

Removing the leftover food

from the banana leaves,

cleaning the tables

for the next set of people

waiting to dine.


They—

who are tired,

not of choosing food,

but of disposing of it.

Watching the leftover food

thrown into the dustbin,

They silently questioned God.

Those who want food

are never given it,

but those who don't even know

what hunger is

are given the will to waste it,

and a heart

that never even realises

the importance of food.


Those tired eyes

didn't have the energy

to look up

at the varieties of dishes,

but wished

everyone would

fold the banana leaves

without leaving anything behind,

so that the disposing process

would become easier,

so that their inner selves

could console themselves

that no food had gone to waste.

And unlike them,

at least those people

whose tummies were full

could sleep peacefully.



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