I discovered not one, but three parks in the vicinity, each frequented by folks of a different demographic.
There’s a little one (by Delhi standards ie) located a stone’s throw away from my place, mostly patronised by old ladies and middle-aged married gals living in the neighbourhood. Auntyville.
The peacocks in the Rose Garden are a sight to behold, as they dart across the running track, one after another. The woods sandwich the track on either side, and you have a few seats and clearings, every now and then. There’s one large clearing dotted with rose plants. This park has the best running track of the three, and is frequented by the nouveau young (middle-aged but youthful) couples, people of diverse nationalities and some very athletic-looking solo joggers. It’s massive by any standard. This one I like best; it’s pure magnificence in the midst of a chaotic Indian city.
The Deer Park has deer, ducks and peacocks and somewhat rudimentary but functional badminton courts. This one is frequented by the classes, the masses and everyone in-between. Running here is not so hot, as every now and then you need to jump over mounds of earth, being dug up for God knows what reason.
But I am not complaining. Three isn’t a crowd. It’s helping me commune with nature.
