Bengaluru’s Song

By Aashi Singh

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Namaskara! I am Namma Bengaluru, the city of gardens, laptop screens, and 10-minute deliveries. I am known for many things: startup dreams, pink flowers that bloom in spring, and traffic nightmares turned into reality. There’s much to see and much to complain about me, but through all the cacophony, I stand tall, relentlessly, welcoming all who step within me and giving them a taste of my personality. My days are long and tiring, and I rarely get a good night’s sleep, but through it all, I still find a way to sing the song of the rain and dance to my own beat. 

My day begins with a pairing of masala dosa and filter coffee at Darshinis, and don’t you dare frown at the generous amount of ghee you see on your plate, trust me, it’s healthy. Quietly, I eat as the birdsong echoes through the trees in early morning, but alas, my peace is temporary, for the screech of the vehicles rattles my streets, and the hum of the birds is interrupted by horn screams. It jolts me out of my reverie, and I wish that I didn’t have to move at such high speeds, always rushing, always running, never stopping to appreciate the beauty of all that lies within me. 

There’s much I have to do within my day: take care of the lakes, protect the trees, and run heavy machines that choke my breath. Often, I am left confused by development’s promises and nature’s shrieks, by the sight of tall buildings next to slums overflowing with people struggling to eat. I mourn what has become of me: broken roads, unfixed potholes, lakes encroached; a thousand woes standing tall for me to solve. But I cling to hope, step by step I cope, navigating obstacles to overcome, carving futures out of failures, slowly learning how to grow.

I carry the weight of a thousand dreams, bringing people together through different communities, for it is in unity that one finds humanity; it is in unity that we can dream of a better me. It doesn’t matter what language you speak, because I have always carried multitudes within me; Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil are all part of the song that plays within me. So come dance to the song of my beat, walk through Church Street and find a thousand books to read, and if you get hungry, I have food from every cuisine, be it Italian, Korean, or Japanese. 

Walk through my streets and revel at the sight of all that you see: coconuts stacked neatly, dense oak trees, and vibrant temples standing tall under the sun’s gleam. Dance through the rhythm of rain showers and drink a cup of warm tea, and in case you get late for your airport journey, worry not, for you can just take the next KIA 14. Enjoy your stay, and if you happen to leave, know that I will miss you quietly. But worry not, you can always make your way back to me, for I will be here, today and tomorrow, moving and growing endlessly while holding on to all that I used to be.