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PERHAPS AT PONDICHERRY

PHOTOSTORY: ATHEENA WILSON TRAVEL THE WORLD

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story   |  PERHAPS AT PONDICHERRY

01: Perhaps at Pondicherry

ATHEENA WILSON

My uncanny taste for flamboyant textiles hailed from a land of curious glances. Markets always stir these peckish desires in you to experiment, it’s the one place where you can tailor your dreams. But that’s not what I loved about markets.

© AGHIL MENON

story   |  PERHAPS AT PONDICHERRY

02: Perhaps at Pondicherry

ATHEENA WILSON

A flurry of auto drivers rushed to us chattering away in Tamil. Dawn seeped in, the sun rose fairly early at Pondicherry. It was another day of sun, but there was a sweeping wind of laziness that suddenly slowed down time.

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story   |  PERHAPS AT PONDICHERRY

03: Perhaps at Pondicherry

ATHEENA WILSON

On our first day at Pondi, we imagined cycling through Rue Suffren till Paradise Beach, rather we found ourselves going around in circles. Riya and I never got our hands on bicycles, but we had a better experience with the rickshaws.

© AGHIL MENON

story   |  PERHAPS AT PONDICHERRY

04: Perhaps at Pondicherry

ATHEENA WILSON

Even by 6:30 am, to our surprise the market was already on its feet. Women peeling fresh prawns, a lot of them comfortably squatted, and their wringed sarees tied around their waists. There were hints of jasmine among the pungent smells.

© AGHIL MENON

story   |  PERHAPS AT PONDICHERRY

05: Perhaps at Pondicherry

ATHEENA WILSON

Usually during Onam, I used to see pavements lined with flower markets in Kochi. I grew up hearing tales on how flowers were transported from Tamil Nadu, but this was another world. The stalls were divided by stunning velvety rose garlands.

© AGHIL MENON

story   |  PERHAPS AT PONDICHERRY

06: Perhaps at Pondicherry

ATHEENA WILSON

Ten years from now, we would remember how we set off to Pondi one summer. Sometime again I suppose, I would be sauntering in eye-clashing clothes in another city, but my first one would always be Pondicherry.

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