Sidhi arrived in Bangalore with dreams in her eyes and hope in her heart. She had a degree in graphic design and a desire to build a successful career in the city that’s known as India’s Silicon Valley. Her first few weeks were a whirlwind of induction meetings and learning various processes at work and apartment hunting with a school friend who already lived there. In short, she was trying to adjust to the bustling city life.
After looking at several houses, she found a quaint apartment in a cosy neighbourhood and quickly settled in. Her new neighbours were friendly, but one person stood out: Ajay, a cheerful and helpful guy who she had seen just move into the apartment next to hers.
“Hello, I’m Ajay,” he said with a warm smile. Sidhi looked up and returned the smile, feeling a little less alone in her new surroundings. “Hi Ajay, I’m Sidhi. I also moved in recently,” she replied.
Over the next few weeks, they explored the city together, sharing stories from their life and what brought them to this city. While Sidhi was from Delhi, Ajay had moved from Mysore and had been to Bangalore many times. Ajay introduced Sidhi to the best street food stalls and she, in turn, taught him her secret to making the perfect biryani.
Their friendship blossomed as they laughed over idli-samosa combinations and savoured the vibrant flavours of Bangalore. They attended cultural events, hiked up Nandi Hills and became each other’s confidants. Soon, they started sharing favourite recipes from their mom’s kitchens back home. Sunday mornings were spent labouring over cooking good food and later exploring the city.
One evening, as they strolled through Cubbon Park, Ajay turned to Sidhi with a nervous smile. “Sidhi, I’ve been wanting to tell you something.”
Sidhi, intrigued, looked at him. “What is it?”
“I think..No, I am sure that I have fallen for you,” he confessed.
Sidhi’s heart raced. She had felt the same way for a while but wasn’t sure how to say it. “Ajay, I feel the same way. I am in love with you too.”
Their love story began that day and as the years passed, it only grew stronger. Their journey in Bangalore, which started as two strangers in a new city, led them to a profound and lasting love. In each other, they found a home amidst the bustling streets of the city they had come to call their own.