A single crayon connects our worlds.

In the hustle and bustle of Delhi, I held a secret purpose. It was to have the children of this city draw pictures. A clear and simple wish. However, I couldn't quite find the courage to step into a place like a slum on my own.
That was when I met Yutaka, a traveler who happened to be staying at the same hostel. When I told him about this plan, he readily offered to help.

The two of us headed from Sadar Bazaar, where the budget hostels are clustered, into a narrow alleyway. It felt less like a slum and more like a small playground where local families and children were laughing and playing.

We immediately asked them to draw pictures using gestures, even though we didn't share a language. Before we knew it, we were surrounded by over 30 people wondering what we were doing.

The children's eyes sparkled at the drawing paper and crayons I had brought. A cheer went up, and the paper and crayons were in high demand.
The tool of drawing easily overcame the language barrier and connected everyone's hearts in an instant.

The children moved their fingers in a frenzy. Pictures of cows, the streets of Delhi, and even a mysterious pro wrestler. The drawings they created were all powerful, yet at the same time, many were clumsy.

Among them, I found one that particularly caught my eye. A picture of Ganesha. With its rich colors and powerful lines, it was hard to believe it had been born from the hands of a young child.

I told the child who drew it, "Your picture is wonderful. Please let me buy it for 30 rupees (about 100 yen)," using broken English and gestures, and held out a banknote. The money first went into the hands of his father, who understood English. The father looked a little surprised, then, without hesitation, handed all 30 rupees to his son.

In that moment, the child's face lit up. He looked so happy, and his father was smiling contentedly as well. The children around us, myself, and Yutaka—it was a moment of color etched into the canvases of our hearts that would never fade.
Pictures hold a power that goes beyond words.

It is a magic that crosses borders, transcends generations, and warmly connects people's hearts. In a back alley in Delhi, I saw the brilliance of that magic.

—Ah, once again, a soliloquy in a strange land.