Imagine, if you will, a capital city that houses 22 million people. A number so high, it could be picked right from a science fiction novel. This is the first day, the first sunshine that touches my skin in the legendary country of India. 5 floors up in a building that looks like it shouldn't carry more than 2 floors. The furniture old and withered, the walls covered in water damages and spots from god knows what. At least the air condition still makes some sound and spits out a little bit of cool air. The room didn't look unlike the inside of my mind. As so many others before me, I came here to get away from a life that had become too much for me. It's that age-old test to see if it is possible to run away from yourself. Even there and then I knew that a body can run, but the soul will always follow. Yet sometimes the seemingly pointless leads us to new insights and understanding.
If India was my Path, the spice market was its gate. What else is that famous, colorful and tasty? My hotel was to be right next to it. A little straw through the colorful streets and the fresh smell of spices should fill the air like a concert for the nostrils. Oh, my innocent mind, your now in another land. Unbeknownst to me, my hotel room had traveled through mysterious channels and shady hand to be dropped 30 minutes away from the said market - and not 30 minutes on foot either. What had happened? Don't ask. There are no answers to questions like this here. Fate in this country is defined by the powers you can't see. They will guide you in unforeseeable ways, while you float along their streams like a leave on water.
Could you imagine that you would meet wild monkeys freely roaming through the center or a 22 million city? How is it that in a western city they call the police, the special units and the wildlife hunter to shoot a money within hours of its escape from the zoo, yet here they live free among all the other people. They have their sharp teeth, dirt loaded claws and superhuman muscles right there, about a half a meter away from you. Sitting, watching, trying to sneak in and steal some of the food you carry. Maybe the answer is that monkeys are very intelligent. They know their limits and live in the city like anybody else. Little tricksters that make you smile, then take your stuff while you turn away to get your camera out.
On the other end of the spectrum of inhabitants of New Delhi are the people who turn this city into such a rich and colorful Mantra of life. Like this guy and his Marigold flowers. What does it mean to be him? How does his life pan out? Will he also be stuck by a midlife crisis? Not to forget the tightly woven traditions and social regulations binding everybody in this country. It's an enigma.
"Discovering India" is a series I write exclusively on Steemit. Here is the last post:
https://steemit.com/travel/@multi4g/discovering-india-the-arrival