India, Jan. 31 -- Some walls are continuing to stand, so do some shelves and doorways. A flight of stairs as well. All else has become a huge pile of bricks. Anyhow the debris of the old building, which locals say fell some years ago, looks integrated to the texture of the land. This afternoon, passers-by are passing by busily, no one looking at this house in heap.

Such is the surreal start to Gali Chunnamal. Located close to the Walled City's vanished city wall, the lane this afternoon is dappled in shade, splashed here & there with spheres & squares of sunshine. The gali is rich in stylish old doors, all are locked. Some of these doors are covered in dust, their latches densely cobwebbed. They must not have been touched for years.

Ste...