The beautiful Delhi instant.

[Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi]

The Delhi Walla was one morning traveling in the Delhi Metro’s Blue Line route, which connects Anand Vihar in east Delhi to Dwarka Sector 21 in west Delhi. In this line, the rail covers most of the distance overland, going underground only for a short stretch between Mandi House and Ramakrishna Ashram Marg. Somewhere between Karkardooma More and Nirman Vihar, I witnessed an incredible sight: the shape of sound.

A commuter was sitting by the window. The sky was sunny. Since it was a chilly winter morning, the coach was not crowded and the young muffler-wearing man had the entire space to himself. Suddenly, there was a faint rumble, as if an enemy army was rushing in for a fight. The window went dark. The source of the thunder was another metro train, which had come running over the parallel track; the blur of its coaches blocked the sunlight. The young man rubbed his hands anxiously. The train sped away in five seconds but the ominous rumbling echoed on. After a few seconds, the silence returned, along with the sunlight. The young man relaxed. It was a beautiful moment.

The lull before the storm

Sighting the sound

He’s unnerved

The worst is over

Was it a nightmare?