Bangalore, a city that evokes different and distinct emotions for different folks.
For me, it only evokes memories...
In 2002, when Ani shifted from apna Vasai to work at HP, it was still HP. Bangalore was still Bangalore. Wind Tunnel Road was still like a tunnel made of old trees on both sides with canopies closing in above.
The whole city was still green. There were no frothing lakes. HSR Layout and Sahakar Nagar were simple-but-far-from-city-center residential layouts with mud roads. Yelahanka was like a satellite town.
The airport was still inside the city with green fields surrounding it. ACs were not a necessity yet.
Ani has his own share of memories in Bangalore: him meeting a few loves of his life and finally marrying one of them...
I certainly have no nostalgic memories of Bangalore without him though. He meant Bangalore for me.
Now, I'll only miss its weather. Which is also soon leaving the place like he is.
Bangalore never meant food joints or pubs to me. It was the only place I felt I always had a second home. Home was where Ani lived.
He certainly was Bangalore's non-resident resident, if that makes sense. His interactions with the locals and the city culture were minimal and if-and-only-if-required kinds. But he did make a few lasting or memorable relationships here.
This was the city where we shared Friends, How I Met Your Mother, The Practice, Breaking Bad, most seasons of GoT, and beer together.
This was the city where we made long trips braving city traffic to collect pirated DVDs of A or B-grade thrillers, slashers, and a few good films together.
I have seen the city being abused. Seen it grow without any direction.
Now am directionless. In Bengaluru.
For there's no place called home here anymore.
Bengaluru without Ani is just another dying city in India. For me, he made the city come alive with love, laughter, and hope.
Now, I hope that I can call Lisbon my second home soon. Hope he makes it BIGger there.
