between rewriting &casting

Okay, so I started walking in a neighborhood park in Gachibowli, Hyderabad. Today, and as always, I walk into this park and it makes me happy. That is such an amazing feeling. And I’ve been wondering. I’ve always thought of India as chaotic, noisy, and not peaceful. But this place… the words that come to my mind today are love and harmony.

So I thought I’ll just observe. Here I go. I’m walking. What do I see?

I enter to the sight of children playing. All kinds of hair — pigtails, ponytails, hair barely held by a rubber band. Tiny tots, young girls, women. One thing I’m noticing in this park is a beautiful balance. Sometimes India feels very masculine to me. But this park feels like a balance. A male–female energy balance.

I have my headphones on. Maybe next time I should take them off and experience this fully. But even with them on, I can feel everything around me.

So I’m walking. And I see this lady. Yesterday she was in tears. She was wiping her face, waiting, maybe for a phone call. She looked distraught. A part of me wanted to go and ask if she was okay. Another part of me held back. I don’t know the dynamics here.

And today? I see her again. With a man. She is clearly in love with him. She is tearful again, but this time there is joy.

I keep walking.

There are always couples in this park. They are interesting. On the bench to my left, a woman in a hijab and a man, deep in conversation. I can feel the good energy.

To my right, near the tiny play area, a young couple. Couple Blue. She is on the phone. But her left hand is touching his leg. Fingers gently curled. She is not lost in the call. She is present with him. That small touch. That acknowledgement. That was beautiful.

That tiny play area always draws me. Children playing with mud. Nobody stops them. It’s just allowed. I love that. One day I may go and dig my own hand there.

Little kids, maybe five to eight. Small trucks. Filling them with sand. I remember doing this at my grandmother’s place in Bhimavaram.

As I walk, I see a young man I often see. With a younger relative, maybe a nephew. A quiet, steady presence.

And then I notice a group of kids. One girl has unusual facial features. Miss Yellow. Something about her eyes and nose, and I admit I felt sad. But what struck me was this; the other children did not see any of it. They played with her completely. No hesitation. No separation. Nothing to notice. Wow. That is amazing.

And then I come to my favorite part of the Park.

The seven stones game.

They stack stones. Throw the ball. Try to break them. I don’t know all the rules. I need to ask them. I want to make a short film about this. The characters are incredible. Strong girls. Strong boys. No boy–girl divide. Just energy. Just friendship in the air. These kids will grow up well.

Every round I record a little. I want to capture moments. A shot here. A shot there of the game. I’m beginning to know them now. Mostly the same group, one or two new faces each day. This is the highlight of every round.

Later, I notice a couple with a laptop. A Mac. Unusual here. And yes, they were in love. Public affection, yes. But it felt beautiful. It added to the music of emotions in that place. Not disrespectful. Just human.

As I continue, I realize I lose track of rounds. I walk for an hour, sometimes more. The park is so interesting that I have to pull myself away to return to work.

By this time, dinner preparations begin in nearby apartments. The smells waft in.

Onions. Cumin. Something sautéing.

Fragrances move through the air. Soft powder from women sitting on benches. Coconut oil from hair. Another house, another sauté. Later, I realize — potatoes.

As darkness comes, I meet the girl again — the one I called Miss Yellow. Now I no longer notice her difference. Only the game she is playing.

The lady in love hugs her man. Completely present. I hope he is a good man.

The hijab couple, the man eats something from her palm.

The Blue couple’s child plays in the mud.

Parents gently balance toddlers on bars.

And then something shifts.

A boy from the seven stones team looks at me. I remove my headset. He calls me “Uncle.” I resist internally. But he needs help. Their ball has fallen into a dark area. They need my cell phone light. We search together. Another man joins. There is an acknowledgement from him of my help. A silent belonging.

They find the ball. They thank me. Deep respect. I continue walking.

Now I feel part of the ecosystem.

Later, two very young boy’s plastic ball rolls into the walking area. They are hesitant to cross the shrub fence. I cross the ball not wanting to pick it up, I don’t want to get my hands dirty. Thats only a part of me. But my feet stop. I turn back pick up the ball and throw it back. Another moment of belonging.

Everyone here is kind.

Young couples. Grandparents. Nannies. Workers. No class. No hierarchy. An equalizer.

No one stares at my man bun. I am just another person.

I also notice a quiet boy. Sad. A mother or aunt sits beside him. Other children gather near him, not out of pity, but care. No kid meanness at all in all of this park.

Another round, she continues to comfort him. Deeply present.

And then, at one point, I notice a woman’s Pattalu, anklet. Only one of her feet visible. The bench sits with the shrub fence. That one feet, and how it was angled and present suggested, strength and delicateness. A perfect visual. I did not look at who she is as I crossed her.

And now, I realize.

This park is magical.

Maybe I was meant to find this place.

Before this, I moved through three apartments in 15 days. I was unhappy. I just wanted one place to sit and do my work… but the universe kept moving me till I found this park and decided to rent this apartment for a month.

I look forward to the walk every day.

Walking her feel like I am amongst nature.. Yes it’s a park, but parks in India feel quite urban. This one feels like the ocean. Like a forest. A calm that comes from nature.

Harmony.

Love.

And somewhere, amidst rewriting and casting, this park is quietly rewriting me.

Feb 18th 2026, Gachibowli, Hyderabad.