January 21 4:30 pm Mumbai

After breakfast and a long nap, I am now out on a tiny fourth floor balcony. I am drenched in a throbbing bass hum of jeers and cheers, pierced with clapping, whistles and occasional squeals.  Hundreds of teenagers, mostly boys, are playing soccer. There are several organized pitches as well as areas of intermingled chasing of yellows balls and blue balls. A girl in a bright pink sari and head scarf swings a badminton racket smashing the bird back to her friend in jeans and a black tee shirt. Most of the girls cluster. They hug, hold hands and try to be noticed.. The boys shout and stand confidently, they race after balls and grab friends in head locks.  The fourth floor foliage is lush and exotic; palms, figs,money trees and something that looks like a giant sumac. They filter the views but not the pulsing noise. In the greenery, parrots squawk, pigeons preen and peck, while over head three large vultures glide in circles.  Beside me and up a level on a roof, next to a crumbling decorative column,  a boy in a pink shirt watches. Suddenly I am part of the landscape, when he smiles and waves to me.