City Food – Amir Khusro’s Chai, Near Amir Khusro’s Tomb
His state-by-state chai. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He has to be Delhi’s most exceptional chai man. Not because he is wearing a stunningly eye-catching shirt this afternoon. Not because he shares his name with one of Delhi’s…
City Landmark – Poet Ameer Dehlvi’s Room, Opposite Jama Masjid
The beautiful room is empty. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] The door to the left opens to the long balcony; the window in the front wall looks on to Jama Masjid. The room is an imperfect rectangle. The…
City Landmark – Indian Christian Cemetery, Burari
Summer’s cool envoy. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] But then it was never easy to catch him. Say, he’s spotted with a Matia Mahal gossiper on Jama Masjid stairs. That very hour he’s seen enjoying a plate of…
Mission Delhi – Kesar Devi, Somewhere in Delhi
One of the one percent in 13 million. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] She gave it the finishing touch minutes back. She calls it kundi. This is her protective headgear. “Keeps the head safe from the load I…
City Hangout – Cyber Hub, Gurgaon
Ten years of the Hub. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Some shoppers are strolling down the promenade with a more easy-going stride than others. Some of those others are looking a tad dazed by the scale of things….
City Walk – Gali Gunna Mishra, Near Dilli Gate
A Walled City street. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Narrow, secretive. The street is 50 steps away from Dili Gate, and 10 steps away from the crowded khasta kachori kiosks of Jaipur Namkeen Bhandar and Brajbasi Namkeen Bhandar….
City Monument – Summertime Baolis, Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah & Elsewhere
That old AC. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Some of us are dodging the summertime heat waves by self-exiling within AC rooms. AC existed in the very old days too. That medieval-era air-conditioner was of stone, a secretive…
City Obituary – People Tree, Connaught Place
Passing of an era. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Such a teeny-weeny dukan, but it fashioned a subculture, and became a Connaught Place icon. Some may even call it a Delhi institution. And now People Tree at 8,…
City Home – On the Lane, Hazrat Nizamuddin East
Their temporary address. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Nizamuddin East is too posh. The dwellers include a nawab’s daughter, a former chief minister, another former chief minister’s politician son, a jet-setting film director, a top notch hotelier, a…
City Season – Amaltas Sighting, Near Sunder Nursery
Summer’s cool envoy. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Are they really real or are they Artificial Intelligence real? AI-generated images are going viral these days. Can these be one of those fakes? No, the blossoms turn out to…
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