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'I've met amazing people here'

Last Updated 05 May 2015, 13:59 IST

For many outsiders who are in Bengaluru, the City has been a land of opportunities. While many come looking for work and better education possibilities, there are still others who are impressed by the City’s culture and stay on. Dhruv Sharma who is from Chandigarh and Karen Nunes whose roots are from Goa, but grew up in Chandigarh, have been staying in the City for a few years and they say that they love the City’s nuances. Dhruv works as project manager with Mann & Hummel Filter Pvt Ltd and Karen works as a product manager with Hike Messenger Ltd.

It was the couple’s love story that brought Dhruv to the City. “Karen had moved and I tried my best to find a job here. When I couldn’t find one immediately, I decided to do MSc in Strategic Product Design Management with MS Ramaiah School of Advanced Studies. After this I got into my current job,” says Dhruv. He has worked at Chandigarh and Jamshedpur before this and says that the people at work have been very supportive. “The team is amazing and take up challenges, and do not play blame games.”
He says that he has met a lot of interesting people in the City. “I have met some amazing people and made great friends here. There are a mix of people everywhere and we have had our share of own experiences — some weird ones and others which were very heart-warming,” he says.  
  
Dhruv recollects a time when during a conversation about petrol prices raising, someone said that these prices kept fluctuating “because of North-Indians”.

“I was appalled and I didn’t know how to react for a few seconds. But this can happen anywhere,” says Dhruv with a laugh.

Karen quickly adds that there have been some really surprising moments too. “Once I was travelling in an auto and forgot my laptop in it. The auto guy dropped me, finished his duty and had gone home, when he found the laptop. He came back all the way and found our house and gave us the laptop,” she says.

The couple say in unison that it has been a pleasant ride. “The City has a very up-scale crowd. Most people in the North are hot-headed to the highest level. But here people are much more refined. There is immense respect for women here.

In fact if Karen comes late at night, I wouldn’t be worried. The youth here are stable minded.”

Karen adds that having lived in the North, “not having to deal with eve-teasing makes a lot of difference”.

They appreciate their freedom in the City. “Also, the people here are open-minded and they make things fun. I often make conversation with people at the next table, when we are outside. This is only possible here. People are cool and understanding and friendly.
If I tried something like this in Delhi, the reactions would be different,” he says. Karen says that “people here are sensible”.

Coming from Chandigarh, ask them to compare between the two cities and Dhruv,
says, “Cleanliness is a major factor. I miss the greenery, which is there in Bengaluru, but it is not as well managed as in Chandigarh.”

Karen steps in to add that she misses the traffic rules. “ I also miss our ‘addas’(hangout places). Here we hang out at places like ‘Rasta Cafe’ and ‘Plan B.’ Also, mostly we hangout at home itself, because you have access to good home-food, cheaper beverages and the security of being at one’s own home,” he says.

Of the other things that they miss in Bengaluru are the festivals. “‘Holi’ is particularly important for me as that’s when I met Karen,” Dhruv sums up with a smile.

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(Published 05 May 2015, 13:59 IST)

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