I am still trying to find my room with a view.

Sitting in my small room (Literally a 'room' though the handwritten ad had said "One room set") in congested area of south Delhi, I can but dream of such a room. Well - I must mention that I came here to achieve that small thing - having a room with a view. Wait - there's a catch. It cant be just any room - but my room with a view exclusively for ME.

This is Katwariya Sarai (and I wonder why are there so many 'Sarai's in Delhi!) - a student infested area where you get cheap accomodation and free techno music throughout the night. Most of the young, jeans clad people out here are trying to make their careers. However - there are other strange species in this area as well. They lurk in the corners of this junkyard, escaping their past and groping for their future. Lo - I think I just defined myself! I am old enough to be dragging two reluctant kids to the nearby prep school. But here I am - burning midnight oil in a room that hoards nothing more than a P4 (well- that's the best I could afford) and some books. God - help me - where's my room? And how can I forget the view?

I am what I am. A woman alone in an unknown city.

There are actually two windows in this room - and both are always closed. I dare not open them - lest someone crawls in through the unhinged open windows. I am so selfish really - I want the window to let me out to the world - to give me a view - at the same time hiding me from the world's view.

Well - you see, I said it. I am what I am. I am a woman - alone - unknow city - so...the windows are, for the time being, closed to me.

But - someday - they are going to open - and I am going to have my own Room with a View.

...continued