The true city.

[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]

The truth is that the actual city consists of only two bougainvillea trees—the rest of Delhi is an illusion. The two trees stand in Lodhi Gardens. One March afternoon The Delhi Walla went there to experience the spring rhythms of true urban life.

The grassy ground was covered with pink bougainvillea flowers. They were falling from the branches of the trees like a continuous monsoon downpour. A clay pot filled with water, too, was covered with the pink flowers.

Under one of the trees, a young man was seated on a green bench. A young woman was behind him, seated on the trunk of the bougainvillea. A pink handbag was kept beside her.

Another woman lay sprawled under the pink shade of the next tree. She had a plate of green grapes beside her. She was barefoot. Her Kolhapuri sandals were elsewhere, covered with flowers.

Not long after, a stray dog came under one of the trees and started to drink water from a small container. He was followed by a young man and woman—they embraced each other and took a Selfie.

A leafless tree stood close by. A child had climbed towards the top. He was looking at the bougainvillea trees from that high vantage point.

The flowers continued to fall; yet, the trees still showed no loss.

Season’s blessing

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