Well, I am always late for everything, I mean not an hour but at least a couple of minutes and that has sometimes surely put me through hell. So a few days back I was to go for a movie and surprisingly I was not late, rather I was a full five minutes early.

Just when I seated myself in the rather uncomfortable chair the national anthem played. Most of the people near me fell silent and paid their respect, some stood up, some even saluted, and I remained seated. I don’t know why I just couldn’t stand.

Back when we were in my school days we had to stand up whenever we heard the national anthem anywhere, but now that I think we did it out of fear of our teachers rather than out of respect.

It is not that I do not respect my country or my patriots, I do hold them in high regard. Such is their sacrifice that I couldn’t even think of myself doing anything of that sort but that day I just couldn’t stand. I know I should have shown my respect.

So coming back to the movie, when the national anthem ended everyone sat down but there were few men on the lower seats that started whistling and hooting instead of singing “jay hai”. There were no advertisements on the screen, no trailers, no teasers, no women showing off at what these mean usually scream and hoot.

It was insulting. I know I didn’t show much respect but these men certainly do not respect the country! I don’t understand what is more important, standing and saluting or at least not misbehaving!

Or am I wrong at my interpretation?