City Hangout – Ghost Street Stalls, South Delhi Hangouts by The Delhi Walla - April 20, 20200 The life in lockdown. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] The yellowing leaves fallen from the tree above have carpeted the dusty ground, turning it into a padded mattress of golden-yellow. A large wooden chest is stacked against the red brick wall. It is covered with two layers of plastic sheet. Leaves have fallen upon it, too. Huge chunks of stone are lying on the plastic, probably to prevent it from being blown away in case of a strong breeze. The wooden chest is shut closed with a huge lock. A foot-operated Gold sewing machine stands beside the chest. The top body of the machine is tied with a sheet of red plastic—this also has become a receptacle for yellowing leaves. Other
City Series – Abhimanyu Raj in Delhi, We the Isolationists (225th Corona Diary) Corona Diary by The Delhi Walla - April 20, 20200 Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Abhimanyu Raj ] I close my eyes in self-isolation from corona... and I see yearning, flowing through the ridges of my palms, like cheap olive oil. I see another night and a pair of salty, tear-laced lips. I see desires that smell of cardamom and the rice kheer my mother makes on a full moon night. I see my guitar that reeks of half-played tunes and ill-timed lovers. I see storms that rest at the back of my tongue, tasting of wet wood. I see a late summer evening at the Humayun's Tomb, with my ears buzzing with Eric Clapton and Mohammad Rafi. I see so much, yet when I reach out, the only thing
City Series – Reshma Sanyal in Pune, We the Isolationists (223rd Corona Diary) Corona Diary by The Delhi Walla - April 20, 2020April 20, 20200 Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Reshma Sanyal] I close my eyes in self-isolation from corona... and I see struggles of the introverts and recluses, those that are often misunderstood. The struggle to get out of bed and put up that pot for tea, only to realise that the sugar has left me like most and I never cared to get it back. To cook one meal daily and realising it's possibly better to spend the day in bed, wishing it away. To create, something, anything, anyhow. To deal with self and be kind when others are not. To heal and survive, every single day. “We the Isolationists” series urges folks from any part of the world to share a brief diary
City Series – Salouni Mohanty in Bhubaneswar, We the Isolationists (222nd Corona Diary) Corona Diary by The Delhi Walla - April 20, 2020April 20, 20200 Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Salouni Mohanty] I close my eyes in self-isolation from corona... and I see myself drifting away to one of those windy evenings of 2021, when I would sit under the porch carpeted by the bougainvilleas lovingly planted by my mother. I feel my hair light up golden and the hope restored as I dare to remember myself in the time of all that once was and how far I've come from the quandary. It makes me happy for a moment, smiling softly to myself. For a girl as simple and silly as I, it makes all the difference. “We the Isolationists” series urges folks from any part of the world to share a brief diary starting
City Series – Zahir Abbas in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, We the Isolationists (221st Corona Diary) Corona Diary by The Delhi Walla - April 20, 20200 Our corona diary. [Text and photo by Zahir Abbas] I close my eyes in self-isolation from corona... and I see how life comes to a standstill and how nature takes charge. I see birds making fun of us and sun passing a caustic remark. I see my friends failing and my enemies making me proud. These days are unseen and more. “We the Isolationists” series urges folks from any part of the world to share a brief diary starting with “I close my eyes in my self-isolation from Corona... and I see...” Not more than 100 words. With a horizontal-sized selfie, along with your city name... please mail to me at mayankaustensoofi@gmail.com.