'The city made us more confident'

The city’s warmth has brought many from across the country to its fold. It was a better job opportunity which brought Sujoy Das and Arpita Sinha, who hail from Dum Dum, Kolkata, to Bengaluru. The couple, who live here with their son Aranya, say that nothing could dampen their love for the city, as this is home now.

Sujoy and Arpita, who run an eatery ‘Chakum Chakum’ ,  feel blessed to have relocated to Bengaluru. About their hometown, they say that the place is known for its varied culture. “Kolkata has a very interesting nature. Our place was known for a factory ‘Jessop’, which was into making railway bogies,” says Arpita.

The couple, who did their studies from Kolkata, moved to Hyderabad and Chennai after their wedding, before they came and settled in the city. “Since then, it has been an interesting ride,” says Sujoy.

People back home in Kolkata are very warm and broad-minded, says Arpita. “The festive mood is always on in the city. Something or the other is always happening there. Food is a big part of our culture and most conversations start, traverse through and end in food,” says Arpita.

Chinese food is a favourite among people back home, she adds. “A place called ‘Tangra’ is known for restaurants run by Chinese people. So the place has authentic Chinese cuisine. People of different age groups hang out there and it is one of the most popular places,” details Arpita.

Sujoy misses Park Street, which is dotted with upmarket restaurants and pubs. “Some of them have survived the test of time for over 50 years! I also have many unforgettable moments from ‘Some Place Else’, listening to talented bands,” says Sujoy.

 Religious connotations aside, Sujoy says that nowhere else is ‘Durga Puja’ celebrated so elaborately. “For us, it has always been five days of unrestrained euphoria,” he adds.

Street food, which includes rolls to ‘jhalmuri’ to ‘puchkas’, is a big part of the culture, vouches Arpita, which led to the couple starting their own eatery in Bengaluru. “In Kolkata, one doesn’t need to have a deep pocket to enjoy good food. The variety is unbeatable!” says Sujoy.

Coming from a place influenced by culture, be it dance, music, poetry or theatre, Sujoy and Arpita love the mixed culture of Bengaluru.

“We love and appreciate the city for its people. When I was staying in Chennai and I visited this city, I thought that this is where I want to settle down. The cosmopolitan nature of Bengaluru has a very mystical appeal to it,” says Sujoy.

The couple agrees in unison that Bengaluru is very receptive. “We started our business here because Bengalureans are ready to try new things. People are open to new ideas and accept people as they are. We also connected to many Bengalis and many other people through work. The city made us more confident,” says Arpita.

The convenience and the facilities in the city have ensured that Sujoy and Arpita never get over their fondness for their adopted home.

“Something I love about the city is that everything is available here. One can get whatever they want at one area, be it from the supermarkets or different retailers,” adds Arpita. “I think I have lived here for ever now and I always tell people that I am a Bengalurean,” quips Sujoy.

He adds, “There is also a sense of style in the city; something about it that attracted me to it and made us stay on.”

When not at work, the family likes to hangout at ‘The Oberoi’ or ‘Smokehouse Deli’, Vittal Mallya Road. “We love relaxing at the Cafe Noir, UB City. We love watching movies and shopping, so we are at the malls often,” says Arpita.

“The city has give me everything. My patience has grown manifold,” says Arpita, to which Sujoy adds, “I can’t think of any other place we would call home.”