As we returned from our laborious trek to the market, back through the derelict Bombay slum, the pungent mixture of urine and incense seemed to reach a new high. It went from mingling with the hairs in my nose to fighting them, causing me to twitch frequently. I had heard that Indians had come up with incense to disguise the way they relieve themselves in the streets. It turns out to be a vibrant and harmonic concoction. When we finally reached home we had to sterilize our feet. I found the clean air appeasing to my senses. I took liberty from the restfulness of the indoor’s reticence. Later that day we took a timely trip to a local pool. The sun was effulgent and the sky clear…

After hours spent trying, I still couldn’t master the act of swimming and so decided to momentarily give in. The atmosphere was pleasant. The sun’s fluorescent orange rays caused the clear water in the pool to glisten and sparkle. It accompanied the blue water in visual harmony. The sunset cast light upon the other children creating small frolicking silhouettes. I decided I may find something to interest me elsewhere and so chose to venture behind the changing rooms, my mood content.

As I fumbled to the back of the changing rooms, in pursuit of a bewildered pigeon, I noticed a discerning change in my surroundings. The air spitefully took a swift change from positive to very cold and sombre. The whole area was chillingly desolate. Isolation began creeping through me. Despite this, I took off after another pigeon. The domain was situated near a water pump and so was drowned in mud. I was now on the trail of an abnormally large pigeon, which darted to the left in order to evade my graceless figure. I attempted to do the same but unlike the agile pigeon, found myself upended after my rhapsodic speed caused me to slip and slide in the mud. At the time I thought I had sustained only a minor knock to the head. I remember that my immediate reaction was to waddle off to find mum, hoping for some sympathy. “Mummy, I slipped!” I sobbed. She reached out to comfort me, softly adding “There, there”. This proved to be of immediate effect and prompted me to hurtle off after those birds.