Morning

We wake up to find mist on the mountain slopes and a sun rising through cracks in the sheet of clouds. A group of mynas circle around. There are birds with orange beaks, with purple bodies and large feathers bouncing from tree to tree. We are a couple of hours late for our onward journey. No one wants to wake up before daybreak.

At Rishikesh, we bid our farewells. S and I leave for Delhi early while the others wait till the night to be in time for their connecting train. By then we get to know the group better, even the more reserved ones. The journey is similar to our first and the driving is more rash.

Another beautiful evening follows. Lined trees bring streaks of light and shadow and even the mundane is transformed. A man pumps air into an old bicycle, people sit by a machine shop, fruit-sellers wait for customers, children play. Textures, like old bricks, sawed wood, rust, windows, moss, the abundance of greenery, fields of crops, all lap up the sunlight. I think of the hours I could spend with the camera in light like this.

We reach Delhi on time. In an attempt to reach home early, we take an auto-rickshaw which takes a short-cut and we are lost in the middle on nowhere. We do reach but it is late at night. We head for the shower.