Life recently threw me into a wild rollercoaster ride without a seatbelt. Adapting to changes, finding a new job, and breaking bonds made it a challenging journey altogether. Coping with everything was tough, but I eventually managed to navigate through it all. It would be unfair not to mention the support my circle provided me throughout the process. It was last month I finally returned to Bangalore after spending a couple of months in my hometown. I realised that the change of environment was exactly what I needed.
In this piece, I want to journal my experiences over the past month — sharing what I did and how it went. Join me as I take you on a photo journey, accompanied by my words.
✈️ Day zero: CCU to BLR #
Staying in your hometown, surrounded by family and relatives, provides a sense of comfort. The thought of leaving this comfort zone to return to your workplace city can make accepting change even harder. That’s exactly what I felt. However, returning to Bangalore turned out to be refreshing. My manager’s relentless nudging to relocate and my own desire for a change brought me back to this city of concrete marvels, techies, pubs, wine shops, and, of course, legendary traffic jams.
👨💻 Workplace #
I mostly worked remotely at my last company, and following the same routine every day with zero social engagement got pretty boring. That’s why I was eager to return to Bangalore. This time, it was for a new job, so I was excited to visit a new office. The first visit is always exciting, with new faces and a fresh environment. Over time, it becomes a routine again, swinging between your desk, the office cafeteria, and back home. However, it’s not a boring routine for me since it offers me a plenty of opportunities to hang out, meeting new people, explore different places, and enjoy a flexible work setting.
☕ Eatery Visits #
One of my friends took me to Third Wave Coffee for the first time, and since then, I’ve been visiting the place frequently, at least once a week. The cafe’s vibrant interior and tranquil ambience make it a perfect spot to unwind. Moreover, they have got just the right playlist, featuring Cigarettes After Sex, Lana Del Rey, and John Denver.
📍 Third Wave Coffee, Varthur #
It was a weekday, and after wrapping up work, I headed to the cafe with my laptop to relax and edit photographs for an upcoming blog post. Besides the usual cafe hoppers, you can also see people come here to work and study.
While I was halfway through editing my photo collection, someone hurriedly entered the cafe, ordered their favorite drink, and settled in with a book. What caught my eye was the line on her t-shirt: ‘Mountains let us climb them, we don’t climb mountains.’ I was moved by those words. I went up to her and complimented her t-shirt. She mentioned she bought it in Kasol in Himachal Pradesh.
She then asked me, “Are you also into hiking?”. It turns out she’s into trekking as well, and we ended up sharing our trekking experiences. Our conversation about the mountains lasted quite a while. Meeting strangers and getting to know them has always been my thing, and this time, our interests perfectly aligned.
📍 Anand, Whitefield #
I had heard a lot about this eatery, with many people recommending the chole bhature and dahi papri chaat. I finally tried them, and I have to say, they were spot on. The decor is impressive too, quite different from the typical Udupi Park-style outlets scattered across Bangalore. Their sweets are also delicious and definitely worth a try.
One evening, I was walking down a road near Hope Farm circle. I spotted a young guy selling egg sandwiches and chai. I ordered a plate. The sandwich was fresh, tasted good, and was also light on the pocket. Curious about his story, I asked where he was from. He turned out to be from Mangalore in Karnataka, running a roadside stall offering omelets, egg bhurji, sandwiches and chai.
I started chitchatting with him and learnt that he holds a graduate degree in electrical engineering. A more curious me wanted to know what drives him to not work in the corporate and instead do this. Putting up an ambitious smile on his face, he replied to me that he teaches maths and science as a private tutor in the morning and operates this food business in the evening, and he has plans in the future to setup his own food truck or a shop. Awesome! I wished him good luck. He offered me chai and didn’t charge me for it.
I gave my introduction to him as well. And, as soon as he got to know I’m a Bengali, he asked me to recommend a few Bengali movies. In addition, I suggested a few Bengali songs as well. He told me he likes to watch movies and was recently reading about Satyajit Ray, which piqued his interest in Bengali films. As a Bengali, I was honestly glad to hear this from a Kannada guy. It made me realize how beautifully diverse the fabric of my country is. It was great to meet such a brilliant guy proudly owning his roadside food stall, good at holding a conversation and has varied interests.
Visiting new office, meeting colleagues, exploring new places and connecting with strangers, the past one month has been fulfilling. This year, I’ve decided to stay back during the Durga Pujo in Bangalore for the first time. While I typically enjoy celebrating in Kolkata, but this year I want to experience the festive vibe here. Let’s see how it unfolds.
📷 Photodump #
