New Girl in the City

Two years. Two continents. Two flights. And I become the new girl in the city. Paris. The city of lights, the city of love. I once wrote down the 101 things I wanted to do before I die, and one of them was to live in Paris. Little did I know then, that wish would finally come true.

Like all new things which happen to me, moving to Paris brought a mixed emotion. I was nervous, anxious, excited—all at the same time. On one hand, I was sad to leave Bangalore, the city which was like my second home, where I started my professional career, where I dreamt dreams of the future, where I planned to settle down and start my family. On the other hand, I was bored being at the same place, going to the same office, and living at the same house. Kind of like running on a treadmill—you run and run but go nowhere. I wanted a change of place, a change of context. And Paris happened.

After wrapping up my life in Bangalore in six suitcases and four cartons, I landed in Paris with a clean slate—not expecting anything (since nothing goes as per my expectations anyway), ready to delve into work and enjoy the city to the fullest. After my last one month stint here, I was sure at least the city won’t let me down.

Then started the process of “settling down”. The legalities, the financials, bank accounts, and the biggest monster of them all—house hunting. By now I am used to the fact that I don’t get anything easily in life, and obviously what I want will not be what I get. So I was ready to slug it out all over again. And then, something changed. I don’t know if it was just a random case of luck or it was the city, but everything started falling into place. Contrary to my expectations, I found a lovely house in a beautiful part of the city. The agent was a gem and she helped me set up almost everything. And then, lo and behold, I got a friend. A friend who was there every single time I needed someone, even when I did not say it out aloud. And before I knew it, I was home. Weekends were packed with activities—pubs, movies, visiting beautiful places. I didn’t even know movies were released here in English, although with French subtitles. I was planning trips, I was going shopping with friends, I even figured out the French sizes for clothing and shoes. Life couldn’t have been better.

But life is full of surprises and for the first time, my life didn’t stop at being better.

I fell in love…something which I thought would never happen to me again. Falling in love in the city of love? Too dramatic? It doesn’t end there. It’s a love story Bollywood would fall in love with. Two people completely different, yet feeling a heart-felt bond. Two people from completely different backgrounds, yet sharing the same beliefs. Two people who don’t speak the same language, but understand each other without a word being spoken. And the entire world against them. Stuff dreams, and Bollywood movies, are made of.

Two cities. Two worlds. Two months. I am no more the new girl in the city. But a lot of new things are happening in my life. I am not thinking about the future, I am not planning anymore. But its as if all the things I ever dreamt of are coming true one by one. That’ll do for now. I have now realized how futile the expression “the pursuit of happiness” is. If the turn of events is anything to go by, happiness follows when you stop chasing it. I don’t know what the future will bring. But today, right now, as I write down these words, I am happy.