It was a cold December afternoon. Sixty hearts were pounding with nervousness and throats had gone dry even without the Sun outside. A day before, sixty students had taken written tests and then a couple who had made through the written test had appeared in two rounds of interview – Technical and HR. The results were being read out that afternoon and there was complete silence. The Dean and an Assistant Professor were reading out the names and I don’t remember anything after I had heard my name. Not even the joining date.
There was a din and unexpected commotion. An applause followed by wishes and with the excitement around, I knew I had made it to the first company on CDAC, Noida campus. As they used in say in those days, I was ‘placed’ in L&T Infotech, Bangalore.
Four days later at Delhi airport, after technical snags and cancellation on Air Deccan, I took my life’s first flight via Jet Airways to join my first job. Within 2.5 hours I had covered 1000 kms to reach Bangalore and was all set to report to Induction on 19th December, 2005. It was the first day at work. That’s how my love affair with the city started. I loved Bangalore (I still do) from that day onwards. Long walks to explore North Indian food joints, the Sunday sewa and langar in Gurudwara, Bobby da dhaba in Ulsoor, Lalitha Parathas on Commercial Street and the Punjabi Aunty’s restaurant on the CMH Road were the joints we frequented. Kemp Fort in those days was a pleasant place to visit and the Inner Ring Road used to be deserted.
Airport was at a walking distance and there were hardly any flyovers. The volvos had just been launched and I took pride in those well maintained AC buses. Bangalore One which houses round the clock water and electricity bill payment centers are still such an important public utility and I don’t know which other city can boast of that.
The gardens at every nook and corner and the pleasant weather is still unique to Bangalore. The city is warm and welcoming and the people, loving and open-minded.
This year I completed ten years in Bangalore and the last ten years were the pink ones of my life. First job, weekend ventures with friends, meeting and falling in love with VT, going back to college, changing jobs, getting married and moving out from shared accommodation to staying together. I feel as if this city has shaped me.
How I do not want to head North and how my life is here. How dosa batter and coconut has found a place in my refrigerator. How Pongal for breakfast makes me happy and how Kannada is a now a known language.
Any city that you live in grows over you. Once you accept it with all your heart, you can soak in it and feel that connection. Your memories and your life seem to exist not just on their own but in conjunction with the city. When I came to Bangalore, I hadn’t imagined that I would live ten years in this city but as I am writing this, I am looking forward to as many here as life can give.
First job is always remembered. It gets written in the chapter of life and you want to look back to be able to share some stories like I felt sharing with you all today.
19th December, 2005 – you will never be forgotten.
I am writing today for the Yeah Write Non Fiction Grid #249.
happiness and food 
Good one. I remember my first day at my first job. I had butterflies in my stomach 🙂
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We all get that. I guess it is the nervousness that shows we are scared to step into something better 🙂
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Oh, made me nostalgic. Even i have completed ten years. B’lore was my dream city to work. (for most of them it would be America).
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I never imagined I would come to Bangalore. It was destined. Thank you for taking time to read Ajay. 🙂
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I haven’t ever lived in one city for 10 years straight. My threshold has been 9 years max. As soon as it came to 9 years, it got time to pack my bags. But, I do understand completing 10 years in Bangalore would be very special for you especially since you started your first job here and met, fell in love and married VT here. I have missed reading many of your posts however I am glad I did not miss this one. Cheers to many more years of union with this city 💖
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Thanks Anamika! I can never say when I will get to move from a place. I left Azamgarh after first 17 years of my life and since then, moving. 🙂
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I know what you mean. After flitting between Mumbai and Pune over the last 15 years or so I cannot imagine going back North again even though I was born and brought up there.
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Yep! 🙂 thanks Tulika for stopping by!
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Your post reminded me of : My First Day in Gauhati : start of first innings : that was on 24.12.1975 when I joined a Bank in Fancy Bazar Gauhati as an officer trainee leaving my home town Jallandhar which was 2200 km away . I have still not been able to leave Guwahati till now after having published my Book . Loved your post . But it was difficult recognising Parul who is always in a saree from the day I have known her 🙂
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Lovely read and so true– Every place you live becomes yours in a way… I lived in many different places.. amazing memories of people and places, food and culture… Life at its best:-)
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Very beautiful thought – every city grows on you.
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I stayed in Bangalore for about 9 months. I love it. First jobs are special. You know the native language which is an accomplishment. Here’s to more happy memories this city brings to you, Parul.
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I know that feeling, Parul. It’s been 13 years for me in Bangalore. How I’ve grown to love this city. It is home now. It’s the city where both my children are spending their childhood and where I now own a home. Thanks for making me walk down the memory lane.
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Ahhhh. That feeling of falling in love not with a person but a whole new place. It’s just something special. I had such affair too and when my time was up and I had to leave, to return home, I was crying buckets. Many thought I was crying because I was leaving my boyfriend behind, even he thought that but the truth was, I was crying because I was leaving my home, a place I had fallen so deeply in love with.
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I understand your emotions Parul… It made me realize I had never lingered for 10 yrs in a same city/town/village/whatsoever
B’lore has got onto you… keep it clean till I drop in 😛
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You are most welcome. Sometimes, I want to move but not out of Bangalore. May be another Bangalore out of India.
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I can surely vouch for the fact that a city does grow on you. When I left Muscat after about 18 years, I actually wondered if I would like another city having lived all the time here. But my stints in Vellore, Pune, Hyderabad however short they may have been were long enough for me to develop a strong bond and liking to the city :D.
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