The building sat alone on the stone outreach. It was solid and British but too small to serve any useful purpose at all.

“This where big Queen coming one time.”

“Mmm.”

Padam, sensing his lack of interest, turned back towards the road.

“People also coming for that.”

Two buildings dominated the scene – each very different.

“That – Taj Mahal Hotel.”

Max recognized it.

“Famous for terrorist attack – but famous long time before that.”

One of the buildings was old, classy, a subtle magnet for the rich and powerful. Constructed from huge sandstone blocks it hung low and unobtrusive on the coastline, with wide windows and lofty balconies overlooking the bay. The other, squeezed into the corner of the complex, in prime position diagonally opposite all the action at India Gate, was comparatively new and inherently ugly – just another tower – with an overly elaborate façade hanging from it with about as much allure as a negligee over a skeleton.
Drawn to the activity surrounding the hotel, they meandered through the small garden connecting it to the Gateway and drifted towards the tower. There was no plan- they just seemed compelled aimlessly in that direction. Then suddenly, at a point just across the road from the tower where Max had vaguely imagined the two-minute walk would begin, Padam stopped, smiled and opened his hands in welcome.

“This my place – you liking?”

There was nothing there – but the clear impression that they had already arrived at their destination.

“Here?”

It was a slab of concrete under the shade of a huge Plane tree – there were no walls, no roof, and no rooms.

“Best place in all Mumbai!”

Max laughed – he’d imagined “sleeping place” to mean “small house”, or “flat” or even “room” – at least something with a roof!

This wasn’t even a plastic bag hut!

“Seriously?”

Padam looked serious –

“You wait – you see – best place in Mumbai.”

“You want me to sleep here?”

Max gazed around the slab. Scattered piles of clothes now took distinctly human form – a mop of shiny black hair – a small hand. To Max’s amazement five small children were sleeping alone on the concrete!