Closing the Bengaluru chapter
I wrote this on my last flight out of the city that broke me on day one and pieced together a better version of me over the three years I spent there. Bengaluru meri jaan, you’ve no idea how much I’m going to miss you.
Almost everything I planned for this city went south, but I wouldn’t want it any other way in hindsight. Here are the parts I want to record and never forget.
Home @ 3798
When I moved in, I honestly thought you were a one-year pit stop. But I have loved every single day I spent calling you home. You were warm. You were tolerant. You were the first place in my life that I’ve called “home”. Only God (me) knows how I managed to pay your absurd rent. In hindsight, you were worth every penny.
Thank you for being the official hangout spot for my people. No matter the state of my relationships, you were a place that people always looked forward to visiting. The parties we threw here were (Barney voice) legendary because our friends were there to witness them :)
In a metaphorical way, we were both blank slates in 2023, and slowly we added pieces that brought us to life. Letting you go was the hardest decision I have ever made. You’ve no idea how many times I’ve teared up, but kahi pahochne ke liye kahi se nikalna bohot zaruri hota hain.
People
Vignesh, Kanika, Vivek, Sid (Headout Helmer), Tanvesh, Anjali, Aadil, Suuuchet, Atique, Raks, Sahana, and last but definitely not least, Sid.
It doesn’t take long to realise that I’m a high-maintenance friend. Thank you for maintaining me 💙. Thank you for always showing up. Thank you for understanding how much everything meant to me. Thank you for making me want to host the most mundane events as an excuse to meet you. I hope I was half as good a friend to you as you were to me.
No matter where I am, I hope you know I’m always one call away.
Ecosystem
If there’s one thing that has changed me more than anything, it’s my industry: the startup ecosystem. I swear you’re far from perfect, but you have your own charm. I have nothing but gratitude for your generosity. I come from the land of cutthroat dhandha. Thank you for teaching me there’s more to it.
I was introduced to some of the most amazing people entirely by chance: sometimes while sitting in Third Wave, sometimes while visiting the office of the company behind my favourite financial app, and sometimes while tagging along with my insanely talented friends.
If you’re reading this and contemplating a move to Bengaluru for its startup ecosystem, take this as a sign from the universe. It’s worth every single hurdle you’ll have to cross.
And finally, a much-needed thank you to the WTFund team and, by extension, Nikhil Kamath. A lot of what I did here was enabled by their belief in me.
The next chapter
I’d like to keep the next chapter a secret until I have more clarity. If you’re one of the few people I have mentioned it to, I’d love for you to keep it to yourself. I like presenting things my way :)