I complete 15 years in Bengaluru today!

Fear, anxiety, nervousness and insecurity: These were my emotions on July 29th, 2010, the day I moved to Bengaluru. 

The day I landed in this gigantic city, I felt lost, I felt numb, I felt like a stranger. The first day in office was day full of unknowns and also filled with excitement at the same time. 

I was this naive small-town girl who had never spent a day away from parents till then. I had a job offer in hand in my final semester. I was very happy, exited and proud of that but at the same time had cold feet to leave my family & hometown Hubli. Trust me it was not easy. I had butterflies in my stomach. Mixed emotions I cannot express. Each one of you who have moved out of home to live alone elsewhere would have experienced it.

A month passed in the same struggle, feeling homesick each day passing, wanting to give up every single day but kept moving on with perseverance because that's the way we are all brought up. I also realized that I am not alone and there are thousands of people sailing in the same boat. I made friends and started enjoying work life. The first salary was like a priceless moment. It felt like an achievement and a sense of pride it gives you is out of the world.

This high-tech capital city of Karnataka - rightly called the Silicon Valley of India - has provided jobs to crores of people like me, who have lived in Bangalore for years, yet perhaps never paused to appreciate this beautiful city.

What makes Bangalore special?  It's the weather, trees, lakes, parks, eateries, pubs, metro, temples, roads, vibe and people of course.

There is no other metropolitan city that is as green as Bangalore. The trees make the city so beautiful specially in the spring when the city is colorful with yellow, purple and pink flowers all over. 

Lakes here give you that extra motivation for a morning jog and evening walk. Same with the parks. It is so rightly called the "city of gardens". A stroll in Lalbagh can take all your stress away.

I can't even get started on the eateries. You get the best breakfast in the world here. The dosas, idli, vada, chatni, bhaats and of course the coffee you get in the Darshini's here you will not find anywhere else in the world. The pubs here are out of the world and have the vibe that's unmatchable. There are restaurants that offer you all types of cuisines and flavors form across the globe. 

Talking about the people, the city has population from every state in India. The actual national cultural integrity of the country is here in Bangalore. I have had the pleasure of meeting people from so many states and work closely with them. Once colleagues who are friends and family now. 

The metro connectivity has brought the city closer and is helping solve Bangalore's huge problem - "The Traffic" and who creates this traffic? We - people who have come here for all that the city has to offer.

Bengaluru is my city now; and this is where I belong. Whenever I am away for a week or more, I am happy returning to Bangalore every single time.

Cannot believe it's15 years already in Bangalore. It has given me a so much and I do not know how I can repay, may be by doing my bit in keeping the city clean. It has given me a job, a livelihood, friends for life, a wonderful family, a home, memories I cherish for life 💙

Today I can proudly say "Namma Bengaluru" has a special place in my heart 💗and glad to call Bengaluru as my home now. 🏠