(Filip)
First few days in Bengaluru, Lakshmi took leave from her job so we could hang out together. The hotel which I stayed in was good with services. It wasn’t expensive either. I paid 320€ for a 2-week stay, including breakfast and air conditioning which was a great price. Although, I know it’s still too much in India. But I was fully prepared before going on the trip. Trip advisors on YouTube said: ”Rather pay more at the beginning if you are newcomers travelling to India than less, and have some unexpected problems. I also recommend this. I’m a programmer that works online, so I needed a stable internet connection. My hotel provided me with a good internet connection. And yet, it was only one of the many advantages of the hotel. Everyday electricity went off for 1 hour, but it was ok for India, I had no problem. We were planning our first trips around Bengaluru.

In the morning, we went to a restaurant under my hotel. We talked and had breakfast together. The restaurant was pretty empty, so we felt comfortable sharing things about each other. There was also a little Buddha decoration I liked. From the restaurant, we decided to go back to my room. We chatted a bit more, and then I taught Lakshmi how to play cards. It was fun. At first, my English wasn’t good, but after an hour of talking, I started to feel more confident about myself. Honestly, it is easier to learn languages abroad than only to learn at home. Trust me. You would learn much more in one week just by talking and travelling in a foreign country, than learning in school for one month. In the evening we went to a very nice Italian restaurant nearby. When I tried Italian food, I felt at home again. The food was very similar to what we have at home in Europe. We enjoyed every single moment together. We were laughing, getting to know each other, talking about everything.

The second day we have met again (it was Monday – Lakshmi took leave from her job). On our first trip, we visited a Hindu temple nearby. While walking to the temple, we stopped for a minute, and Lakshmi told me to try coconut water. I never had original coconut water because we don’t have this kind of coconut in Europe. It was super fresh and yummy. I recommend you try it, especially on a hot day. It is the best way to cool down in India, trust me. (Except my diarrhoea from it 😄, but it was only once).

Before we came near the temple, we had to take our shoes off first. When I saw the temple, it had a completely different vibe than a Christian church. Everything there seemed to be a lot deeper, I guess? Hard to explain. I respect all the religions obviously.
Either way, it was a fascinating experience. Although, Buddhist temples interest me more than Hindus because Lakshmi is a Buddhist. But there were no Buddhist temples around, so we decided to go to a different place – Lakshmi’s workplace.

A tuk-tuk drove us to Bengaluru’s Global Village Techpark – it was beautiful. I would have never thought that India has such modern places like this. There are one of the top IT companies in India. We stopped for a coffee there because it was too hot outside. Then we made another trip (yes, I know for one day it was crazy how much we spontaneously planned) to Bengaluru Palace.

We paid the entrance fee and went to see inside. The architecture was very nice. Honestly, neither of us was interested in the history part 😄. We just walked around because we wanted to see how it looks. From Bengaluru Palace, we took a tuk-tuk to Orion Mall – a big shopping centre in the heart of Bengaluru to have some food. Seriously – it was huge!

(Lakshmi)
It was already evening in mall but we both sat on chair in front of small lake and had wonder talks. I came back to PG and he went to Hotel. I was really happy that I can feel the goodness, some positive energy whenever I was with Filip. He was really good and understanding person who also knows the value of things, who don’t take everything granted. 🙃

(Filip)
After our food in Orion Mall, we came outside the mall and sat on a bench. I found it very romantic. (You can see in the photo the fountain in front of which we were sitting) The fountain in front of us, the tropically hot weather and then, at that moment, we started opening up to each other. Our conversation was a lot deeper, open-hearted. I spoke, she listened. I told her everything. I shared my strengths, my weaknesses, my good sides, but also the bad ones. She accepted me. Completely and without any judgment. Each day we felt closer to each other. When I was with Lakshmi, I felt so calm and myself. Without having to pretend or do something in a rush or feel nervous, shy or anxious. She was just a beautiful, cool, calm and collected woman, simply being herself.

The next few days, we didn’t have much time to meet because I had to work online – I was programming one Slovak project, Migi had to work as well. One day in the evening, she came to my hotel room and talked for a while. Then we had an idea. There are 36 questions online, which should bring people closer together. So, we tried them. For it to work, you have to answer truthfully. Think about every option. You have to take it seriously because otherwise, there is no use in doing them. After finishing the questions, Migi said one thing: “You are seriously like my father.” I remember it to this day. Because I knew Lakshmi loves her father more than anything, I felt happy when she said that. ☺️ Her father was an example of a true man. She used to tell me that many times he worked a lot to make Lakshmi and her sisters – Phurbu, Sunitha educated and prepared for the world. Sometimes they even used to work with kids in their arms. I understood how hard life is in India. Not for everyone but for the majority of people definitely. Her family had spent their whole lives saving money so they could buy a small house. I have great respect towards her father, whom I didn’t even know then in Bengaluru.

The following weekend on Saturday I invited Lakshmi at that restaurant under the hotel to have lunch. After one week, I slowly started adapting to the food and spices. Actually, in Slovakia, we don’t usually use chilli powders that much. Instead, we use taste powders. But in India, I fell in love with spicy food. It is very delicious and fresh. I wasn’t sure if I’d like it, but seriously it is fantastic! After lunch, Lakshmi helped me get a new SIM card. We visited a bunch of places that sold SIM cards. It sure wasn’t easy to get a new SIM card for a foreign tourist on any of them. So, we decided to take one more SIM card on Lakshmi. It was a matter of 10 minutes to get a new phone number on her, so it was a lot easier. I finally got my brand-new Indian number. Afterwards, we went back to the hotel and chatted on a hotel roof. We still were not in a relationship. But already felt more than just friendship between us. It was a feeling which I can’t explain.

We chatted for hours until evening occurred. Having no experience with girlfriends, let alone touching them, I didn’t feel comfortable doing so with Lakshmi. But slowly, that feeling began to fade. Gently, I took her hand. She let me touch her. I thought, well, this wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. All it took was a little bit of courage. We continued talking about everything. Later that evening, we moved to my hotel room because it was already dark and also the mosquitos were super annoying. We came to the room and lay down on the bed. I played some chill mood music. Later that evening, Lakshmi went back to her PG.

The next day we had a plan of going to a new pretty restaurant near the hotel. It was a restaurant with water flowing around our feet while eating. It was pleasant, especially with such hot temperatures in India. We arrived and have found out that there are some conditions to be allowed in. We needed to pay 1000rs (around 10€) in advance to get in. After that, they arranged a table for us. The food was exquisite. They brought us way too much food so we weren’t able to eat it all. We loved it and decided to go there at least once per month. Unfortunately, coronavirus was slowly starting to affect India.

(Lakshmi)
Then in Bengaluru there were three covid cases found and one of them was working in our tech park, so they gave like one week holiday. I was planning for more places to show to Filip but we had house warming pooja at new house. We were shifting from rent house to new house so I had to go home. I told Filip its just one week and we can meet again then. I was initially planning to take Filip with me but It will bad idea because there will be so many Indian relatives during first day of pooja and It will be difficult for Filip to stay there.

(Filip)
During the week I had work again. Lakshmi told me she had to go home for pooja. Pooja is a Hindu ritual in honour of the gods performed either at home or in the mandir (temple). They already finished building the new house where they were gradually moving. So, I was alone in Bengaluru for 3 days till Saturday. I was working like usual in my hotel room, and then it happened. I already reserved another 2 weeks in that hotel. I came down to the reception area. I asked if I could pay and also extend my stay – they told me the hotel was closing due to the coronavirus and restrictions. I looked at him like: “Should I go and sleep under the bridge or what?” A day ago, you told me that you would be open! He replied: “I am sorry sir, the hotel owner told us to close today for next week.” I am like, ok. Think, breathe. They will be turning off the electricity in an hour, so I needed to pack my things and go. I called Lakshmi for help. Her family told me to come to their place. Ok, so I have to travel 6-7 hours alone through India. No problem. 😄 Lakshmi ordered a car for me because my app was not working correctly. I was not able to call any driver, maybe because of a different credit card. She helped me a lot. I still think that travelling to such developing countries is always better with someone who is there already or who already knows how it works. It saves a lot of time and stress. Like now, for example, I was going to Lakshmi’s home. Without her, I would have had to go home, order a flight or sleep at the airport.

(Lakshmi)
The next day lockdown was announce as covid was widely spreading and Filip was texting me the hotel is closing and he is confused where to go. I nervously explained my parents about Filip being stuck in Bengaluru, my parents gave positive response: “tell him to come over here, we will arrange room for him, It will be difficult for foreigner to find new places specially when new virus controlling the world and also you are friend of him just call him.”. I was really happy that day. 🤭 We booked Cab from here for him which drop him to Mysore bus stand only. From there he had to come through bus. By this time almost all relatives went back to their home after pooja and only 5 relatives were there at home. Usually most of my relatives were bit conservative. Me and Phurbu went to bus stand to pick Filip. I was little nervous about my parents view on bringing a guy to home for the first time but luckily our parents have open mind. They don’t care much about what people thinks especially my father he let us do things which are right without thinking about society. My parents were also excited to meet white friend of mine. ☺️

(Filip)
The road from Bengaluru to Mysore took about 4 hours. The road was good, as well as the driver. I saw how crazy India is in building new infrastructures and skyscrapers. The construction was massive! It was an insane sight, and I would not underestimate India in future. I’m sure that they will be huge one day. A 4-hour drive cost me around 18€. I arrived at Mysore central bus station. Lakshmi and Phurbu were navigating me to find white buses, which were the modern ones. The bus station was so big, there were so many buses that I made a mistake, and I took the red-white bus instead of the whole white bus. I couldn’t find any white busses. I was walking around looking very lost. People were staring at me, and I think it was pretty funny for them. 😄 They stopped me at the bus station for the coronavirus record. I had to write my mobile number, where I am going and everything. I was stressed. So many sheikhs, Muslims, Hindus, and others were there watching me. I took the red bus where I sat with my hands to my body without any space whatsoever. On the bus, I sat in the back seats next to a father with his daughter. She was comparing her almost black hand with my completely white hand. I think that she has never seen a white human being before. 🤭

I travelled for 2 hours when I finally reached Lakshmi’s home town. During travelling, I have to admit Indians are very good people. They even helped me unload my baggage. They also told me which stop to get off at. Now, those are good people. When I arrived, Lakshmi and her two sisters were already waiting for me with a tuk-tuk to take us to their home. I was so excited to see where they live and what kind of house they have built. I was happy to see Lakshmi and her sisters. When we were almost at their place, I completely forgot that I was about to face her whole family for the very first time. Yes, even relatives. I was shaking and tremendously stressed to meet the entire family at once. Even with Lakshmi’s father in front of whom I have great respect. But I had Lakshmi by my side. That was calming me down. I knew I could count on her if something would happen. I knew I could trust her in such situations. She already helped me a lot. We had a pure and lovely relationship slowly building up. Of course, we were not yet in an official relationship or something. But when she smiled at me in the tuk-tuk, I knew she was happy because I was finally going to meet her family.

I will finally see Lakshmi’s family.