A new city needs a lot to become our city. Sometimes, I reflect on what a city means for those who are on the move. Is it our home, friends in the neighborhood, or food street, workplace, roads, or just the feeling of being home.

Many definitions would say it comprise of demographics, presence of institutions, cultural approach, and urban places. For me, a city is your bubble of where you are confined, plus some extras.

Here in Bangalore, the diameter of city is very small. A place where I live and the workplace. In between this distance of 2km is the market, temple, people I pass by every day, and constant search for comfort. This distance travelled every day is filled with chats with work colleagues on comparing is unconsciously with what we all have left back home. Anything outside is a foreign land or an unknown territory, filled with many eyes and thoughts who see me as an outsider. This outside land is travelled by metro many a times and clearly the landscape changes like a kaleidoscope.

Yesterday on visiting a nearby temple, the priest asked where I am from? Clearly, he could notice I am not a local from my mannerisms. Then some aunty enquired during the evening walk, which part of the country I am from. One guy even thought I am from a different country and tried speaking with an accent. I did not feel offended, but surely laughed inside thinking what makes them I am an outsider, while I try to embrace this city and people.

We all have magnetic powers to attract similarity or familiarity. (No quite true always that opposite attracts) People speaking the same language clicking from the first word, search for our comfort food brings people closer, the sound of music resonates in the eyes of fellow walker, how we dress speaks about where we come from, or the entrance of home tells who lives inside. In digital world driven by technology, our apps know where people of same taste are concentrated or even what are their preferences, and sometimes wallet size. They know which part of Bangalore is more Delhi, or where is Mumbai within Bangalore, or the famous fusion island.

The best find of this week is a new hawker selling Panipuri just outside our colony. He migrated from UP at the beginning of this week, and in less than six days he is the talk of our colony. Everyone is going and trying his Panipuri, appreciating the taste, enquiring on his origin, evaluating his ingredients, engaging in a dialogue; all to decide if he is making it like a local or keeping his style original to UP. His repeated customers will be to a big extent those who belong to the North part of India. The process will settle him in the city and his corner will be UP from where many came.

It is so true that we are all finding our city within the new city. There is nothing wrong in seeking home in a new city where one is trying to be at home.