India, Aug. 10 -- Sir Syed Street is never still. The Old Delhi gali is always packed with people, fruit stalls and small shops. An upper-floor restaurant with large glass windows offers a clear view of the decorative lanterns hanging inside. Old balconies and spiralling staircases overlook the street. Signs, wires, carts and shopfronts compete for attention.

But this evening, the most arresting sight is inside a little wayside shop.

A brown-and-black striped cat is asleep on the glass counter of Elahi Watch Maker. Beneath the glass are rows of watches in their boxes. Behind the sleeping cat, watches and clocks cover the walls. The cat has stretched its paws across the counter, unconcerned by the street's bustling chehel-pehel.

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