A decision to leave a country after 13 years is rarely made overnight. For one Indian family, the choice to return from the US came after years of building a life there and gradually looking at the future in a different way.Pankhuri and her family moved back to India in 2023. Their story has drawn attention because the return was not linked to a visa problem or a lack of friends. Instead, it followed a series of personal questions about family, children, work, and the kind of life they wanted going forward.In her social media video, Pankhuri explained what eventually led the family to make the move and why starting again in India became the right choice for them.
The feeling of cultural connection
For Pankhuri, one part of the experience was about identity and everyday cultural understanding.She recalled situations where she would have to spell out her name or explain parts of her background. Over time, she realized how much easier life could feel when people already understood the same cultural references.ID@undefined Caption not available.“It’s really about being around people who have the same cultural references as you, so you don’t end up explaining yourself all the time,” she said.
A question about aging parents
Family became another important part of the decision. As her parents grew older, the distance between them became harder for Pankhuri to overlook. She began thinking about the amount of time she wanted to spend communicating with them through calls and video chats.“And then I really started asking myself a question, like, how much of their time do I want to spend on FaceTime or WhatsApp video calls?” she said.The thought of being physically closer to aging parents became an important consideration for the family.
Thinking about their children’s childhood
The couple also started asking questions about their children’s future. They considered the type of childhood they wanted for them and thought about their children’s daily lives, family connections, and friendships.This became another part of their wider decision about where they wanted to raise their family.
A demanding work routine
Their professional lives also played a role. Pankhuri said that she and her husband had demanding schedules in the US, with both working from 7 in the morning until 9 at night.“Both me and my husband, we were working 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM every day, like clockwork,” she said.The family also considered the availability of domestic help in India while looking at the practical side of managing jobs and household responsibilities.
Immigration remained a source of pressure
While visa problems did not force the family to leave, immigration-related matters were still part of their lives. Pankhuri spoke about having to plan around visa appointments, restrictions, and immigration procedures. Over time, that became another consideration when the family thought about their future.
‘Our priorities in life have changed’
For Pankhuri, the decision was also about how people can change with time. “Our priorities in life have changed from when we were 25,” she said.She explained that it is possible to spend years working towards a particular kind of life and later realize that your wishes have changed.“You can spend years building a life that you might not even want,” she said.That change in priorities became central to the family’s decision.
Starting over brought its own challenge
Returning to India did not mean the difficult decisions were over. The family had to work towards creating a new life after spending 13 years in the US. Pankhuri acknowledged that making the decision to move and actually building a new life are two different things.“Moving is one big decision, but building a completely new life – that’s a completely new challenge,” she said.
Social media users respond
Her story received supportive reactions from social media users. One person wrote, “Family and belonging matter more with time.”Another said, “This is such a thoughtful perspective.”Other users noted that moving back is not easy, while another commented, “Building a new life again takes courage.”Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the individual’s personal experience and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Times of India.Thumb image: Instagram
