The Song Which No One Listens To

By Vedant Dhanjal

Dejected and depressed I stood

Leaning on the platform’s railing

On that windy cold January evening.

My utter loneliness needed a therapy –

Some good soulful music;

And I chose the song everyone knows,

And remember each word by heart,

But hardly anyone cares to listen to –

The Indian National Anthem.

The one I selected was instrumental,

With Sarod playing the lead,

Accompanied by Piano and Violins

And percussions towards the end.

Now inside the train, near the door,

I looked out into my nation –

A flyover running parallel,

Vehicles racing against each other, time,

The distant Akshardham temple,

And the black sky behind them.

And I broke into an unexplainable smile;

Suddenly my heart felt lighter.

As I got down, I was proud

Of this greatest composition

Running on loop in my ears,

Of the nation where I belong,

Of the tricolour which fills up my eyes.

It is perhaps the greatest reason

Why we, I, must strive unceasingly.

I saw the rush of citizens,

And I knew, only I was the one,

Who was listening this beautiful song.

I realised how it feels to be Indian.

By Vedant Dhanjal