Farewell, Pune

It feels like a lifetime has passed. Events from my earlier years appear obscured by the transformative decade just gone – these past ten and a half years hold a weight that eclipses the many years preceding them. It is as if I’ve been molded into someone new. Partly, this is the nature of memory: the present inevitably overlays the past, dimming its significance. But partly, it is the significance of the events that happened over the last decade.

I knew little about Maharashtra before arriving on Mumbai’s shores in 2010, leaving Kolkata reluctantly for the sake of livelihood. I remember longing for home immediately. However, four months down the line, I was contemplating settling in Mumbai. The radical shift in mindset was attributable to a few factors. Living life on my whims for the first time—sans the daily parental nagging and nitpicking—felt liberating. The abundance of youths from across the country made me feel more belonging to the place. The happening crowd had its allure, too. Also, the cooperation I received from the locals when asking for directions to a new place or even otherwise, made the city feel friendly.

I spent more than two and a half fulfilling years in Mumbai before an interview led me to the neighboring city of Pune. The location of the prospective company in a lush green industrial-cum-residential township (Magarpatta City) captivated me instantly. As luck would have it, I cleared the interview. Also, I was then fancying my chances with a young woman who, though often frequented Mumbai, had her house in Pune. The sorrow of departing from a city that I grew so fond of was largely assuaged by the prospects—both professional and personal—that Pune appeared to hold. Also, Pune's proximity to Mumbai comforted me with the knowledge that I could easily visit Mumbai whenever I wanted.

What I instantly liked about Pune was the pleasant weather. For someone who perspires heavily, pleasant and dry weather saved me from the discomfort of sweating that I had endured in Kolkata and Mumbai. Though the summer months are characterized by hot daytimes, the heat rapidly dissipated at nightfall, ushering in pleasant evenings. With hills all around, the evenings were breezy and enjoyable.

Pune’s greatest gift to me was the reintroduction to Table Tennis after a gap of 16 years. The presence of one particularly good player and a competitive TT environment in general in my then office rekindled my long-dormant passion for TT. During my school days, I learned to play Table Tennis for about three years before having to quit to focus on academics. So, after a little bit of practice, I immediately became one of the best players in the company.

In my nearly 8-year stay in Pune, a lot of things happened on the personal front. After having worked for a cumulative 7 years by then, I got married at the age of 32. With the hope of a beautiful lifelong companionship and the promise of a new future, I brought my wife to my rented Pune apartment. For a short while, life was as we had hoped. We lived 14 days together before she left for her native to check on her ailing grandfather. She returned a month and a half later, lived for another 16 days, and then left forever.

Life unfolded in the most unexpected and unwanted way, and seeing it falling apart was incredibly heartbreaking. A searing pain pounded the chest from inside. I kept wondering, "What have I done to deserve this?" Spending many days crestfallen, I slowly tried to regain the reigns of my life. I engaged myself in playing TT after office hours. I started practicing daily in a club here. Later, I played several tournaments and was soon a popular face in the Pune Table Tennis circuit. Rediscovering this passion stands out as a highlight of my time in Maharashtra.

How long can one dwell in despair? I wanted to start afresh and give life another chance, so I remarried a few years later. My new wife joined me here in Pune. I strived to rebuild. We had a dog at home, named Pauchaa, whom I considered my son. I brought in Pauchaa when he was 20 days old, while I was still in Mumbai. From the day I brought him home, the boy filled my life with joy. His playfulness, excited greetings whenever I returned home, and unconditional love are some of my life’s best gifts. He lived with me through my toughest time and gave me continuous company. When a large part of my home was crumbling down, he held a tiny portion in place. I wiped countless tears off his fur. He came ambling onto my lap and cuddled me with his few quintessential licks. It felt as if he was trying to say, "I am with you no matter what".

Three years into my second marriage, Covid reshaped life. The endless days of working from home, untethered from an office, sparked the idea of returning to Kolkata, my native city. Reuniting with childhood friends and staying in proximity with relatives are factors that induced my decision. After days of online scouting for properties in Kolkata, I shortlisted one and finalized it after a visit.

Without Covid, I might never have left Pune. My wife and I were already searching for houses here before the pandemic struck. For eight years, this city was my home – where I rebuilt my life and family. It will forever hold a piece of my heart. While TT matches end, the camaraderie and memories forged with Pune's TT community will endure. My professional connection with Pune has become somewhat tenuous, with me now working for a Mumbai-based company.

Parting, at this juncture, is sweet sorrow! Sorrow for leaving behind my long-time home-outside-home. And sweet – as I look forward to meeting my childhood friends and starting over again. We have our train to Kolkata tomorrow afternoon. For the first time, my pure Maharashtrian son, Pauchaa, journeys to his father’s native land.