A Walk in the Market

A BUNCH OF YOUNG KIDS flipped their skateboards in front of me; their roller blades screaming against the already scratched concrete pillars of an empty lot. It was an early morning when I stood watching them, wondering what kept them going despite falling multiple times.

- NITIN CHAUDHARY

I eyed them equally with admiration and jealousy. Behind me the Thames glided gently—its dark waters shimmering with reflections of the lights from the buildings across. Far off on the horizon, the London Eye spun softly.

I was in London again after four years. To the casual observer, London may present itself as a capital past its prime, a city still wedded to its long-gone significance on the global stage. To me though, it comes across as a city in flux, always. On one end is a city rooted in perplexing institutions, while on the other is a city constantly reimagining itself, take food, art or even business. This perennial knotting of old and new is what keeps bringing me back to London again.

With familiar cities, one keeps going back to the well-loved spots again and again, seeking the cherished memories that reside there. This time I decided to walk around the city carefully, avoiding all the routine landmarks in search of sights and experiences unseen before. That’s how, one early morning, I stood in front of the skateboarders.