Love can be found in the simplest yet profound gestures in fleeting moments and the hustle and bustle of India's vibrant streets. Here, romance, playfulness, connection, joy, affection, care, vulnerability, and kindness bloom amidst all the chaos. All it takes is a choice to witness the beauty that unfolds. 

3:10 am: Struck by loneliness, you strike up a conversation with the cab driver, who’s also at the end of his 10-hour shift, sleep-deprived, seeking a sense of connection in the quiet of the night

6:15 am: The elderly couple from down the street pauses their morning drive to pull over at the roadside. They savor the sunrise as it paints the sky in vibrant strokes of purple, yellow, and red

9:35 am: Dad takes a detour to bypass the morning rush because Mom is waiting for him to bring home the sanitary napkins

10:30 am: As Holi nears, children delight in splashing colors on pedestrians, transforming the streets into a vibrant canvas of joy. Most of them chuckle and wish the kids “Happy Holi”

11 am: Your sister displays her affection publically and loudly by clinging tightly to her boyfriend on a speeding bike, resting her chin on his shoulder —only to spark envy along the way

11:22 am: You’re interrupted by a five-year-old girl at a traffic signal offering pens or flowers for sale. You decide to indulge her, making her day a little brighter with your small purchase

12:13 pm: Amid the honking traffic, your boyfriend becomes a guardian and positions himself between you and the oncoming cars, and then reaches for your hand to ensure you both safely cross the busy road together

12:35 pm: You smile and wave at a school girl who walks hand in hand with her mom after a grueling day at school

1:46 pm: While driving, your uncle adjusts the rearview mirror to catch glimpses of his baby grinning on her mom’s lap in the backseat, instantly transporting him to his happy place

2:30 pm: The husband waits for the bus in his wive’s company but the delay hardly matters to him as he laughs, shares music, and teases her, making time stretch into fragments of fun and frolic

3:00 pm: On his way to the job interview, your brother video calls you and your mom, seeking solace to ease his pre-interview anxiety

3:40 pm: In the scorching heat, you offer your seat on the bus ride to an elderly woman who embodies worry on her face

3:46 pm: You observe humanity setting aside inconvenience to clear a path for an ambulance, ensuring it reaches the hospital on time

4:20 pm: The girl sparked by an interest in literature approaches the cute guy with genuine curiosity, and asks which book he’s reading seated in the quaint corner of the bus

4:47 pm: With concern in his voice, a brother checks in on his sister’s well-being after a sudden jolt on the road that made her scooch away on the scooter

5:05 pm: You feel sorry for the determined mother, holding her child close, and shyly begging at the signal to feed her little one for the day, undeterred by any rejections

5:30 pm: Seated in the park with friends, you savor ice cream, and engage in deep conversations about love and life, and people-watch, all while embracing life’s simplicity

6:47 pm: As you stroll along the city's liveliest boulevard, you pause to savor the melodies of a street musician performing on the sidewalk. Moved by his talent, you approach and extend a flower to him, a gesture of admiration and gratitude for the beauty he adds to the day.


6:55 pm: Just right next to the street, you see the neighborhood kids in their jerseys hugging each other, celebrating a well-earned victory in a spirited game of roadside cricket

7:26 pm: Even though you’re running late, you help an intoxicated woman outside the town’s most famous pub, steadying her as she walks and ensuring she safely gets into a cab to head home


8 pm: Your cousin holds the car door open for your grandma, elegantly dressed and stepping out after a long time indoors on the occasion of her 78th birthday

8:34 pm: Your best friend treats his crush to a cup of chai as a cherished daily ritual after returning from the gym and it makes you blush

9:30 pm: You start petting the stray cat gently who’s made his home near your building. You realize how much it's aged since you last saw it and how quickly time is washing over you

10:02 pm: You're overlooking the streets from your balcony and you catch the groom’s family dancing to the wedding band’s tunes and immersed in the joy of the festivities as they make their way to the wedding venue

10:30 pm: The middle-aged man drops everything to run towards the teenage schoolgirl who screamed “help” after being forcefully pushed by the street vendor

11:12 pm: The first rain of the season invites a couple to dance on the street instead of waiting in the shade, soaked in love and romance, and not having a care in the world

Midnight: The greatest moment: you’re in bed, with cigarettes, and plants for company recounting the day’s beauty in your diary, reflecting, pondering, and truly appreciating love in its essence.