'I love you but I am sorry': Bengaluru techie says quitting his Google job feels easier than leaving the garden city

Software engineer Harshit Sharma recently shared a heartfelt post after leaving Bengaluru and moving back home, reflecting on the memories he is taking with him from the city he called home for the past two years.

The post comes months after he had spoken about leaving his job at Google to explore life on his own terms. This time, however, the focus was not on career choices or financial freedom. It was on something far simpler: saying goodbye to a city.

"Just left Bangalore to move back home," he wrote, adding that while clearing his phone gallery, "a wave of nostalgia" hit him.

What did Harshit Sharma say about leaving Bengaluru?

In his post, Sharma reflected on the experiences that defined his life in the city.

He recalled spontaneous afternoon trips to Rameshwaram Cafe, late conversations with colleagues that had little to do with work, team outings that somehow always ended up at BLR Brewery or Ironhill, fun Fridays, card games, overnight bus journeys, birthdays, year-end celebrations, and farewells.

"So much happened in the past 2 years yet feels it all ended too soon," he wrote.

The engineer acknowledged that he could still visit those places and meet those friends again. But, as he put it, "it'll never be the way it used to be."

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A post shared by Harshit Sharma | Tech | Interviews (@codingharshit)

User reactions to the Bengaluru farewell post

Many users shared similar feelings about Bengaluru and the experiences it offers.

One commenter wrote: "Bengaluru is indeed a great place ❤"

Sharma responded with his own assessment of the city: "If I wasn't a hardcore Delhite, I'd say Bangalore is best. Max safety, min AQI, best people. ��"

Others echoed the sense of nostalgia in the comments, saying the post reminded them of their own departures from cities where they studied, worked, or built friendships.

Moving away from a city is often less about the place itself and more about the version of life attached to it.

The people change jobs.

Friends move away.

Favourite spots shut down or get replaced.

Schedules that once felt permanent disappear overnight.

The story was not just about Bengaluru. It was about the moment when you realise that a phase of life has ended, and no matter how often you return, it can never be recreated exactly as it was.

(Disclaimer: This article is based on a viral social media post and online reactions. The Economic Times cannot independently verify the authenticity of the content and does not claim or endorse it.)