spaces in the city

among congealed pools of someone's rage

scattered footwear gets left behind

no one has use for dead mens' shoes

नसीब हेयेर कटिंग

नसीब हेयर कटिंग सलून is where I get my hair-cut. The propreiter is Mr Hasan Sheikh. If you go to Naseeb Hair Cutting Saloon, your hair will be cut either by Prabhu Deva or a fellow with a long beard. There is another family living on the top of Naseeb. Next door to them is another family and below them is another. The women folk wear nighties with floral patterns.

Benaras

This is the city of Benaras. That is the holy river Ganges running through it. You can see a couple of temples on the banks. You can see a bridge across the river Ganges. You can usually see a number of people on motorbikes taking off in all directions, but I got bored of drawing motorbikes. You can see a few corpses floating by in the river if you have sharp eyes. You have to be careful when you cross the bridge, because if you slip and fall, the crocodiles will get you for sure. Also watch your back, because sometimes people shove you into the water for a little sport. The Benarasis are a ruthless people.

Palm of hand sketches

In the evenings, I sit in a corner in Narayanpeth and watch the world go by. This is an old house opposite to my seat.

I regret that I haven't had very many great thoughts recently, although yesterday, as I struggled to the other side of the pool, hung on gasping for breath, I had an epiphany. I forget what it was about, but I distinctly remember having an epiphany. I know it was an epiphany because I've had them before. I am no stranger to epiphanies, but what is the point to having epiphanies if you cannot remember them the next day?









This is my new friend with whom I share the corner in Narayanpeth. I like his company because he treats me like an old friend. Yesterday, he was lying down in a state of agitated thought and just as I had begun to draw him, he jumped up, and said to me, "What's to be done about tomorrow?" I don't know what's to be done about tomorrow, but I thought it was a most excellent question.

कोई सागर दिल को बेहलात नहीं

फिर तेरी कहानी याद आयी

palm of hand sketches

waiting for the bus














Narayanpeth

Narayanpeth is the happening part of the town. If you were to find yourself at a loose end, you would be well-advised to find your way to this square, get yourself a seat, and enjoy the proceedings. There are a lot of people rushing about, going God knows where. Except for the guy who sleeps on the mat next to where I sit, who has nowhere to go. He keeps asking me for the time. Sometimes he asks me something I cannot understand. "Seventy? Or is it Eighty? It's eighty, isn't it?" he says. I refuse to commit myself, not knowing what I am buying or selling. I think the poor fellow's not quite right in the head, but then who is? I shouldn't be surprised if he feels a bit sorry for me, wondering if I am a bit not quite right in the head. I wonder though if he wonders if I wonder if he wonders that I am not quite right in the head. I would be really surprised if that were the case.




This is the reigning deity that presides over Narayanpeth. There is not a leaf in all Narayanpeth that can shake without this God's express will, but for some reason unexplained, He appears to have dropped the Dronagiri mountain, hopefully not on somebody's foot.

Obama Obama Obama

Sofa so good

Palm of hand sketches

construction site













Balcony