The Delhi Metro is usually loud, crowded, and hurried, with everyone rushing to reach somewhere, earphones plugged in, and faces buried in phones. Yet sometimes, in the middle of all that chaos, you come across someone who feels different. Not because they are trying to stand out, but because their quiet aura speaks louder than the noise around them.
I was heading upstairs at the station when I noticed him walking towards the stairs from the other side. Unlike most commuters who were rushing past, he seemed unbothered by the crowd. His steps were steady, his earphones in place, and his presence radiated a sense of calm. For a moment, I thought of continuing on my way; however, something about his simple and decent personality made me pause. Therefore, instead of walking away, I turned and moved towards him.
When I began a conversation, he gently removed one earbud and greeted me with a polite smile. Although his words were brief, they carried a quiet sincerity. He shared that he had completed three years of college and was now in his fourth year. Meanwhile, as he spoke, I could sense a maturity in his tone. He wasn’t in a rush to explain or impress; instead, he seemed content with where life had brought him.
Soon, he mentioned that he was on his way to a music fest. At that moment, his face brightened noticeably, and it became clear that music wasn’t just a hobby—it was a passion. His earphones, which had been silently cancelling out the noise of the metro, were not just accessories. Rather, they were his companions, carrying the songs that kept him connected to his inner world.
As we continued talking, what struck me most was his simplicity. In a world where people often exaggerate to appear more interesting, he remained genuine. There was no attempt to impress, no unnecessary details—just a calm soul sharing fragments of his day. Yet those fragments felt meaningful. His love for music, his steady presence, and his unpretentious nature reminded me that not every story needs to be extraordinary to leave an impression.
Eventually, he put his earphones back in and continued walking, blending effortlessly into the crowd once again. Even then, his calm energy lingered in my mind. It made me realize that the metro is not just a system of trains and stations—it is also a moving collection of human stories. Some are dramatic, some are emotional, and some, like his, are simply peaceful.
That day, I was grateful that I stopped, changed my path, and walked towards him. Because sometimes, it is in these small detours that we discover people who remind us of life’s simplest truths. And perhaps, the calmest souls are often the ones carrying the most music within them.