It’s a new day, it’s a new life and I’m feeling…?
There isn’t a single word that adequately captures how my life has transformed in the past three weeks. To provide some context, I moved to Gurgaon and started my first job. This marks not only my first job but also the first time I’ve ventured away from home.
The moment I stepped out of the airport with my overweight baggage, it felt like the sun was shining brighter than ever and the people were busier than I’d ever seen. Suddenly, I began to feel sweaty, with a layer of dust settling on my face, while I overheard someone say, “It’s not that hot today, right?” That’s when it hit me; I wasn’t in Bangalore anymore.
I had visited Delhi in 2018 as a part of a college excursion but it was all fun and games, not once did I think I’ll come again to live there, correction here. I reached my hotel and opened the menu to find food that I order regularly upon entering any restaurant. I turned the pages trying to spot what I knew I wanted but was unable to find it. I checked it again; it was the first time I couldn’t spot my masala dosa on the menu and I felt a wave of, um, something, inside me but was too hungry to recognize what it was.
The clock struck 7:00 and I was awake even before my alarm rang (my father would be so proud) which is quite surprising. I reached ASF towers which I was told would now be my ‘workplace’, the receptionist asked, “First day, ma’am?” and that’s when it hit me that I landed a job and I had waiting for this day since October 2021. Time really does fly.
I was shown my desk and my office and everything seemed so new and systematic, that I had to swipe a plastic card to access any area in this building (and I still haven’t quite gotten used to it). I met my team, took pictures to show my parents and friends, and, of course, prepared for that Instagram post, torn between captioning it OOTD or First-day @Cairn Oil & Gas. Ah, the innocence in such trivial decisions is truly blissful.
Around four hours later, it was time for lunch, and I couldn’t spot a single familiar face to sit with. This was a surprise because I’ve always known someone wherever I’ve gone. It was the first time I stood with a plate in my hand a didn’t know what to do next. My friends often describe me as an extrovert, so it was strange that I found it challenging to initiate a conversation. Just like that, the day had come to an end.
Back into my room, I realized how much I missed familiarity, and it hadn’t even been 24 hours. I wasn’t sad, nor I was overly happy, but I did have a sense of accomplishment lingering somewhere in the back of my mind throughout the day. After all, making a thousand miles away from the comfiest bed and tastiest food is never easy. Was this what my friends in university referred to as homesickness?
As I conclude my narration of day 1, it’s almost been a month since I made the move. With many firsts and more to come, all part of my journey, I will learn to navigate this rush of emotions and uncertainty, and perhaps, just maybe, I’ll find my place.
Contributed by: Spurthi E
