From City of Joy to a city in haste

The moment I stepped onto the sprawling platforms of Howrah Railway Station, the city’s pulse hit me — a relentless tide of people, everyone in a hurry, their faces set with purpose, eyes glued to phones, tightly holding on to their bags or briefcases. As I made my way towards the taxi stand for my journey to my aunt’s house, the air buzzed with the energy of a city transformed, where the old leisurely charm had given way to a corporate hustle.

Suddenly, a stray dog darted onto the busy road, panic in its eyes. A car sped towards it, horn blaring. Without thinking, I lunged forward, grabbing the dog just in time, but the car’s side mirror grazed my arm, leaving a deep cut. Blood trickled down, but I was relieved as the dog whimpered safely in my arms.

But no one paused — the crowd surged past, too busy to notice. Kolkata, once the City of Joy, now raced ahead, its people swept up in the business of survival, leaving little room for kindness amidst the rush.

Ujjal Ghosh, Kolkata