There are certain places that hold a version of us we can never fully leave behind.

Before I moved away from New York, there was a small Punjabi spot on the Lower East Side where I would go whenever I needed a moment of peace. In a city that moves endlessly, this place always felt like a pause — a small corner where I could sit, breathe, and return to myself.

This video was filmed on the same day as my subway performance. After giving something of myself to the streets, I found myself returning to a familiar ritual: a walk through the city, a few moments of strength, and a warm cup of ceremonial chai.

Maybe we are shaped as much by the places that hold us as we are by the places we leave behind.

This is a small offering to the streets that raised me, the people who shared moments with me, and the quiet places that carried me through.

Ny, New York 2023 filmed by, Paul Merle