Mellow Evenings

As part of my first job, I've lived in Delhi for more than an year, an year that meant a lot. Experiencing the entire gamut of weather changes that are possible - from blazing May to chilly January and a very wet and beautiful August - is a tale in itself. Combine it with the sights, sounds and smells the city provides and its even more enchanting.

I took this picture at the Lodi Restaurant. The evening was spent meandering amidst the beautifully landscaped and quite historically rich Lodi Gardens, watching lazy firangs bask in the sun, local Delhiites jogging, young couples making out and lecherous ones watching them make out, lathi wielding pot-bellied constables ambling around, and more. After the sun has set and mosquito swarms make it difficult to stay any longer in the garden, one has the option of enjoying a quiet meal at the Restaurant that is nestled within the limits of the garden itself. A large part of the place is outdoor, with options on sitting on 'swings' or cozy 'palanquins' amidst cozy pillows. The entire place is aesthetically lit with candles in a bowl of water with flower petals floating around, like the one in the image above. They serve a few good cocktails among other drinks and the continental menu, though limited, is a nice change of palate. For a more formal evening, one can choose to sit 'indoors' which is a platform enclosed in glass a little further inside the garden. The ambience makes for a nice conversation, with birdcalls and monkey hoops adding sound of its own. All in all, a pleasant experience, to be enjoyed as a couple or as a group.