JOIN USBengaluru has given them everything they wished for. Work, friends and a small family of their own. Manjula Kumari, who hails from Nalanda and Chandramani Kumar from Hilsa shifted their base to the city three years back. The couple has created a world of their own and is today blessed with a boy Anay, who is five years old.
"The culture of the city and the way of life here is very versatile. There is space for everyone here. Bengaluru welcomes people from different parts of the country with open arms and that is what it did with us. I studied in Bengaluru a couple of years back. After completing my education and working here for some time, I left for Kolkata in search of another job. However, after seeing the changing work culture and better education opportunities, my wife and I decided to relocate to the city in 2015," says Chandramani, who works as a software engineer.
Be it adapting to the culture or the language, nothing seems to have been a challenge for the couple. Both Chandramani and his wife Manjula are now learning the language for smooth communication with the locals.
"Learning the local language is important and an advantage for an outsider. I can now understand Kannada," says Chandramani.
Being the foodie that she is, Manjula says that it was not difficult for her to adjust with to the food here. She loves the food and often heads to 'Adhyar Anand Bhavan' to satiate her hunger for this cuisine.
"My husband is very helpful and most days when he is off from work, he takes over the kitchen. He makes good non-vegetarian dishes and we look forward to the weekends when he cooks for us," says Manjula.
Being in a profession where spending time with family happens only during the weekend, he makes sure to spend quality time with his family. Taking them to malls or a play arena where Anay can have a good time is Chandramani's routine during the weekend. The family likes to be indoors as much as they can and be comfortable in their own abode. However, if there is a long weekend ahead, they like travelling to a new place each time.
"We love to travel. So whenever there is a holiday, we take to the roads. Most of the time, we head to Goa, Chennai or Hyderabad. Mysuru and Chikkamagaluru are our favourite haunts closer home," adds Chandramani.
The familiarity of the city was another reason why the couple decided to move back here. Chandramani feels that Bengalureans are more open to different cultures and accepting people from different places comes to them naturally.
"The warm nature of people here makes us feel at home. Though we are from outside, we have never felt out of place. People are often helpful and supportive. It has been three years of peaceful stay for us."