“I am Suchitrha, though most people call me Suchi, and sometimes even Such. I work as a brand and marketing manager at an IT solutions company and have spent over eight years in the creative field. Creativity has always been a part of me. It is not something I chose later in life. It is something that has shaped me since childhood.

I was born in Palakkad and spent my early childhood in Kenya until fourth grade. After that, my family moved to Coimbatore where I completed my schooling. Later, I moved to Chennai to pursue my college education at SRM Institute of Science and Technology. At the time, I never imagined that this city would become such a defining part of my life.

Growing up in a family of teachers had a quiet but powerful influence on me. My grandmother, who was a principal, shaped the way I communicate and understand people. She carried herself with grace and clarity, and I absorbed those qualities simply by watching her. I have always been a sensitive person, and for a long time I saw that as a weakness. Over time I realised it is actually my greatest strength. It allows me to connect with people deeply and adapt to different situations with empathy.

Losing my grandparents at different stages of my life changed the way I see the world. When I was younger, I did not fully understand the weight of loss. As I grew older and experienced it more consciously, it taught me how fleeting moments truly are. It made me more mindful of how I treat people and more intentional about showing up for those I care about. Those experiences shaped my belief that kindness and empathy are not optional traits but essential ones.

Chennai slowly became home in ways I never expected. I always imagined I would end up living abroad, surrounded by a very different culture. Instead, this city gave me friendships that felt like family and introduced me to the person who would become the love of my life. Even when work took me to other cities, I found myself returning here every couple of months. Meeting friends, spending time at familiar places like Phoenix Marketcity, and simply walking through streets that felt known and comforting became a pattern I could not break.

What Chennai means to me today is not just a place on a map. It is the people who became my support system, the memories that shaped my adulthood, and the feeling of fitting perfectly into a life I never planned but deeply cherish. Somewhere between college classrooms, late night conversations, and countless reunions, this city stopped being a temporary stop and quietly became home.”