Unfair Comparison

Two roads diverged,
One thick with comfort – fluffed robes and room service, personal cars and the freedom of speech, of thought, of expression.
The other rich with culture – hundreds of languages, arts and tunes, dizzy with a wardrobe that wraps around your soul.

Two worlds,
Apart,
Distinct,
Unique,
But blending together as the globe around them shrinks.
A cell phone and a sari,
A blaring horn and a stubborn cow,
A holy temple and a public entrance fee,
A river and a right,
A hotel and it’s staff,
A school and a sacrifice,
A bargain and a steal,
A picture that could be worth a thousand words,
A cup of chai,
A dream, a wish, a hope.

The smiles that surround you are telling a story,
Of history and heroes,
Of sadness and belonging,
Of the future and the past,
Of families and fortresses,
And they’re also begging for your attention.
Don’t forget us, don’t ignore us, don’t shoo us away.
The air is thick with pollution, humidity, and the tension of uncertainty.
Will the people of this country every catch up with its growth spurt?
ALL the people
When will it be fully developed?
When, if ever, will we?