THE LOCKDOWN LOVE STORY

The Lockdown & Little Raha             

 

The city of Bangalore, with its perpetually green canopy and the restless hum of innovation, was the unlikely matchmaker for Satish and Tarannum. Satish, sharp and organized, hailed from Tamil Nadu, arriving for his engineering degree. Tarannum, expressive and artistic, flew in from Mumbai to pursue design. They met in the chaos of a college orientation, two disparate souls instantly drawn together by shared nervousness and a common, ambitious future.

Their love story was written in coffee stains at 2 AM study sessions, shared Lalbagh strolls, and countless rides on a sputtering scooter through the city’s traffic.

Post-graduation, life shifted into professional gear. Satish landed a coveted role at a major tech firm in Whitefield, while Tarannum joined a dynamic design agency near Indiranagar. The miles, though short, were taxing. Finally, they took the leap, pooling their savings for a charming, sun-drenched two-bedroom flat in Koramangala, a perfect central haven.

Life settled into a rhythm of late nights, quick dinners, and cherished weekend brunches. Then, the world slowed.

The Corona lockdown hit Bangalore with sudden force. The outside world dissolved into silence, and the Koramangala flat became their entire universe. The office commutes stopped, replaced by the glow of two separate laptop screens set up across their dining table.

The days blurred, but their love became sharper. They were confined, yes, but also entirely present. During their brief moments of freedom—the break between calls, the shared instant of brewing coffee, or the pause after an email—their characteristic love quarrels and sudden bursts of romance would erupt.

"Satish, you moved my charging cable again!" Tarannum  would scold, only to be scooped up moments later by Satish, who knew exactly how to silence her with a deep, coffee-scented kiss. The lockdown was a test, and they passed with flying colors, learning every small, endearing habit of the other.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day of back-to-back video calls, they looked around their small, brightly lit living room. It held their entire world: their work, their arguments, their joy. They didn't need a grand venue or a distant date; they had this perfect, intimate moment.

"Let's do it," Tarannum whispered, holding his hand.

"Here?" Satish smiled, his eyes full of certainty.

Two weeks later, on a sunny Saturday afternoon, they held an "Apartment Wedding." Their friends and family watched live on Zoom, dressed formally from their respective homes across the world. Their closest Bangalore friends, already in the safety bubble, stood by them. With fairy lights strung across the balcony and a simple ceremony conducted by an online officiant, Satish and Tarannum exchanged vows, pledging their love and devotion within the four walls that had housed their most difficult and most beautiful year.

They lived in that precious apartment for another year, adapting to the "new normal." As the city slowly opened up, they made another, even bigger decision. They were ready for a new life to fill their home.

Nine months later, the apartment, once quiet, was filled with the soft sounds of a newborn. They were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, a tiny princess who embodied the warmth and resilience of their journey in Bangalore.

They named her Raha, meaning "peace" and "comfort," the greatest gifts their small, accidental lockdown home had given them. And so, their family of three began their new chapter, rooted deeply in the heart of the city that brought two strangers together.