today was a spectacularly cold day. Overcast, grey, and foggy. The circular bookshop janpath sells books at a 20% discount. A lady wonders if life of pi is good. we show each other books we like. Behind her is a sign that catches my eye. Boyyourtoy@gmail.com. male escorts. The auto driver doesnt know where agersen ki baoli is. We are approached by Munna. Munna tells us he know every inch of the conaught place area. every gali and every modh. he is the only one who knows the short cut to the baoli.

Agersen ki baoli.
lodged between non discript apartment buildings and government staff quarters is a seven hundred year old rectangular tank which is connected to a large well. Not containing a drop of water the structure stands bare and beautiful. We walk the various pathways and find concealed stone steps up to the mouth of the well. loveliness.

So many little leftovers from the past lie folded in forgotten corners only to be explored by wandering tourists and pigeons. Munna gets curious and walks around the insides with us. bas bahar chord deta hoon to undur kabi nahi dekha hain. In the auto he tells us his lambi kahani. there is no time so he tells us the shortcut version of his journey from banares to delhi. two ten year old friends ran away from home. from school. from the abusive alcoholic father. they worked in restaurants, as shoe shine boys and finally auto drivers. thees sal ho gaye hai. he has his own beevi bache now.

Jama masjid rises from the ground more dreamlike than before. If i touch it, it will melt away into the fog. An optical illusion given life by our collective imaginations. The cold is mean and nasty.