“I was born in my native town in Kerala. But I grew up in Madras.

Madras is where my childhood unfolded, where my teenage years took shape, and where I slowly became the person I am today. I was curious about everything. Sports, music, dance, bikes, books, movies. If it was available, I wanted to experience it. I never liked limiting myself to one thing. I wanted to live fully, loudly, and honestly.

One of the most defining parts of my early years was being part of the National Cadet Corps. The camps, the discipline, the sense of responsibility. At the time, I did not realise how deeply it was shaping me. But looking back, those experiences prepared me for the 14 years I would later spend serving in the Indian Air Force. I met many people along the way. Mentors, friends, seniors. Many of them continue to be part of my life even today.

My first posting as a commissioned officer was in Punjab. It was challenging. Physically and mentally. Just when I thought I had understood hardship, my next posting took me to Ladakh, and then to military operations at the Siachen Glacier. Those were life-changing moments. When you live and work in conditions that extreme, your idea of comfort, fear, and resilience changes forever.

I was also part of the Directorate of Air Force Adventure. Skydiving. Parasailing. Training others as an instructor. Standing at the edge before a jump teaches you something very simple. You either trust yourself and leap, or you stay stuck in fear. That philosophy slowly became how I approached life beyond the uniform as well.

Through all these chapters, Madras remained home in my heart.

I love so many parts of this city. Marina Beach. The Bay of Bengal. Long drives on East Coast Road. Mehta Nagar. Besant Nagar. Thiruvanmiyur. Woodlands Drive-In. Madras Gymkhana Club. Guindy Park. Meenambakkam Airport. Gliding at Air Force Station Tambaram. The taste of street food at small VLR stalls. Kamarukattu. Mutta dosai. The trees. The sand. The Buckingham Canal. Mahabalipuram.

Each place holds a memory. Some loud. Some quiet. Some unforgettable.

Madras is not just where I lived. It is where moments etched themselves into my consciousness. It is where I learned discipline and freedom, courage and calm, ambition and belonging.

I love Madras. And no matter where life has taken me, a part of me has always stayed right here.