I want to start this article with a quote I heard long ago in a YouTube video:
Ghar choda tha sapne pure karne, kise pata tha ghar vapis jana hi sapna ban jayega. (I left home to fulfill my dreams, little did I know that returning home would become a dream itself.)
Living in the US was an adventure filled with learning and growth, but there were times when my heart longed for home. After spending over six years in the United States, I made the profound decision to return to India. It wasn’t a decision I made lightly; it was the result of deep realizations and reflections about what I wanted and where I truly belonged. Here’s why I made this life-changing move:
After six years in the US, I had come to understand that belonging wasn’t just about location but where the heart feels at home. Despite my efforts, a subtle yet persistent sense of being an outsider had lingered. The local customs, festivities, and even the weather felt alien to me, as if I was always looking through a window at a world I could observe but never fully be a part of.
At one point, my job security faced a sudden, jarring threat—a layoff. That experience was an eye-opener, highlighting the fragility of my situation in the US. The harsh reality was that my stay there hinged on the whims of corporate decisions. The precarious dependence of my future on employment status felt deeply unsettling. Despite years of building a life there, I was reminded that it could all be upended without notice.
One of my lifelong ambitions was to be my own boss, to create and nurture something of my own making. But in the US, this dream always felt out of reach, stifled by visa restrictions that limited my entrepreneurial aspirations. The path to self-employment seemed laden with hurdles, pushing my dream further into the horizon.
There was also a discernible crisis in the dating world for Indian men, rooted in a stark imbalance: the number of males significantly outweighed that of females within the Indian diaspora. This discrepancy made finding dates challenging and cast a shadow over the hopes of forming meaningful, long-term relationships.
Life in the U.S. as an immigrant often meant constant change—moving apartments, cities, and watching friends come and go. This transient lifestyle, with its frequent shifts in scenery and social circles, was at odds with my desire for stability and lasting connections.
Festivals and food formed the essence of my cultural identity. Back in India, festivals weren’t just days on a calendar; they were vibrant, joyous occasions that brought friends and family together. The special dishes, the laughter, and the traditions made life richer, fuller. In the US, I had to actively seek out these moments, and they were mere shadows of the celebrations I grew up with.
As an only child, the responsibility and desire to be close to my parents grew stronger with each passing day. Distance made it challenging to support them in the way I wanted to, especially as they aged. The longing to be there for them, to share more than just phone calls and occasional visits, became a driving force in my decision to return.
While my years in the US had been enriching and full of learning, the call to return to India became too strong to ignore. It wasn’t just a move across continents; it was a journey back to where my story started, to a place where I truly felt like I belonged.