Today felt like one of those winter days in Delhi where the season fully asserts itself without warning. The temperature stayed low throughout, but what made it heavier was the absence of sunlight. Fog settled in early and did not lift, flattening the day into a single grey stretch. Morning, afternoon, and evening blended together without clear transitions. From an SEO standpoint this fits into cold weather in Delhi, foggy winter day, and extreme winter conditions, but personally it registered as a day shaped almost entirely by climate rather than schedule.
The lack of sunlight altered the rhythm of the day more than the cold itself. Without visual cues, time felt suspended. Rooms stayed dim even during working hours, and artificial light carried the day forward. Movement slowed naturally, not out of lethargy but out of conservation. The body seemed to resist unnecessary exposure. Stepping outside required intent rather than impulse. Even short walks felt deliberate. Fog reduced visibility enough to make distances feel longer, and sounds carried differently, muted and close at the same time.
What stood out was how quickly winter thresholds shift. It is now cold enough that gloves are no longer optional. Hands stiffen within minutes when exposed, especially in the early hours. This marks a clear transition point in the season. Clothing choices change not for comfort alone but for function. Layers stop being flexible and start being mandatory. The body responds immediately to gaps in coverage, which reinforces attentiveness to preparation. Winter in Delhi often arrives unevenly, but days like this remove ambiguity.
The cold also amplifies stillness. Streets appear quieter, and outdoor activity drops visibly. People move with purpose, minimizing time spent outside. Conversations include the weather without exaggeration, simply as a shared fact. Fog and cold become common reference points rather than complaints. This collective adjustment creates a subdued atmosphere across the city. It is not dramatic, but it is pervasive. The environment quietly dictates behavior, and resistance feels unnecessary.
Writing this down is a way of marking the day as it was, without interpreting it further. It was cold, foggy, and largely without sunlight. Gloves became necessary, and the city slowed accordingly. These are small observations, but they accumulate into an understanding of how winter is settling in. Days like this are not memorable in isolation, but they define the season more accurately than any extreme event. Winter is here, and today made that unmistakably clear.