City Landmark - Promenade Books, Hauz Khas Village

Life in the village. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Outside, Jack Kerouac’s poster is staring from the glass wall. Inside, black shelves are stacked with Nietzsche, Hunter S. Thompson, William S. Burroughs, etc. Delhi’s newest bookstore opened ten…

City Hangout - Madan & Festa, Paharganj

Two cool cafés. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] No deafening pop, jazz, or Hindi remixes. Nobody chatting loudly, no south Delhi snobbery. So calm and unpretentious, these two cafés. Laid back and moody, here one can actually follow…

City Nature - Peepal Sighting, Around Town

A tree and its leaves. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] The Hauz Khas pave is coated with leaves. The culprit is standing innocently by the roadside—the tree is partly leafless. Such is the case these days with many…

Mission Delhi - Taran Pal Singh, Ring Road

One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] The mobile beeps. He picks up the incoming call, even as his alert gaze stays focused on Ring Road, hands deftly manoeuvring the steering wheel….

City Landmark - Anwar’s Shaving Salon, Near Gole Market

Hajamat arbour. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Found. A serene impressionistic haven to get a haircut—or a hajamat (shave) if you will. Anwar’s pavement stall beside central Delhi’s Gole Market is austere. Some might though label it among…

City Home - Arshad Fehmi’s Roof, Near Jama Masjid

His morning walk. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] His iPhone’s pedometer reading is galloping as fast as a bullish stock market index—1.009 steps… 1,100… Morning walk is daily life’s ordinary aspect. Businessman Arshad Fehmi’s 6 o’clock ritual is…

City Neighbourhood- Gali Peerji Wali, Old Delhi

Mystic’s lane. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] They forgot the water jug. The family must have vacated the old house in a hurry. Not much remains of the mansion except for a green door and a corner wall,…

City Life - Michael for Sunny, Paharganj Cemetry

Their 40-year-old bond. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Michael Marchant bends down by Sunny’s grave, holding a pack of marigolds he had brought some minutes ago this afternoon from florist Rajesh at the cemetery gateway. He suddenly lifts…

Delhi’s Proust Questionnaire - Rajneesh, Around Town

Into a cab man’s heart. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] One of the essentials occupying an esteemed place in his car is the blue statuette of Dr BR Ambedkar holding a copy of the Indian constitution (see photo)….

City Nature - Trees, Gurugram Railway Station

Platform arbour. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] The evening sun is slinking into the distant west. The air in the immediate vicinity is powdery, either with dust, or with the gathering mist, or perhaps it is simply smog….