Namma Bengaluru...

All my previous posts have always been a fictional story built around a thought or a concept. But this post is going to be my first post of reality - the past and the present.

June 22nd 2008, I left Chennai to join my first job in Bangalore. Fresh out of college, I had my own internal battles being fought at that time. I was in Coimbatore all my life till we moved to Chennai in early June 2008. After helping my family settle down in Chennai, I moved to Bangalore to join my job. New place, new world of professionals and new people. I told myself that it was going to be tough.

I was lucky to meet great human beings and talented professionals in Bangalore both at work and outside. I learnt and grew with them. I came to call them my family and made great friends here. Friends who were there to help me during times of personal issues, people who always took me home when I was on the streets (I got kicked out of the place where I used to stay - Twice!! ), people who told me how important everyday learning was, people who taught me how to better my own records everyday, people who taught me to love, teach & give and most importantly, people who believed in me. While in Bangalore, I used to wait for chances to go to Coimbatore, my hometown. A city that was filled with memories, friends and family. In fact I loved travelling to Coimbatore more than travelling to Chennai.

I moved to Chennai on August 27, 2010. A month later, 16th October 2010, I was required to travel to Bangalore on official work. As came back to the city that taught me and gave me so much, in the 2 years I spent here, I felt a home-coming of sorts. Everything about the city seemed beautiful. And I got to meet at-least a few of those special friends who made my life (and pictures) look good for the past 2 years... the Forum, Krishna Kafe, Corner House Ice cream (DBC), dosas in a local mess in madiwala and stay with my old roommate just made 48 hours seem like 48 seconds. As I prepare to get back, I have realised, I will love Bangalore they way I love Coimbatore. Not because of the malls, not because of the food, not because of sweet chariots or cafe coffee days, but because of the memories associated with all these places and because of the loved ones who made those memories so special.

Namma Bengaluru, Beautiful Bengaluru!