Leaving home is never easy, but for Jhanvi Santoshkumar Varma, a Mumbai native living in Connecticut, the void left by her family was filled by an unexpected source.
In a moving conversation with HT.com, Jhanvi describes how her Japanese landlady, Keiko, stepped in like a second mother, from bringing her 'Japanese bhajiya' to carrying a printout of Jhanvi’s resume to help her find a job.
Jhanvi relocated to Connecticut in January 2024 to complete her master's in data science and is currently seeking employment after completing her higher education.
She learned about Keiko’s place after seeing an advertisement and pays $580-$590 (between ₹53,556 to ₹54,479) every month in rent.
Jhanvi feels she has gained something far more valuable: a sense of belonging, thanks to Keiko and her husband, Greg, who have provided a home filled with respect and kindness, treating her more like family than a tenant.
The bond between Jhanvi and Keiko grew when Jhanvi shared Indian food with Keiko, who reciprocated with Japanese food, and they have been cooking and sharing meals ever since.
Keiko even took care of Jhanvi when she had a health scare, offering to call a nurse friend and providing motherly affection.
Jhanvi's best memory with Keiko is when Keiko handed her a printout of her resume to meet a friend who could help her find a job.
A video of Jhanvi and Keiko playing Holi went viral, warming people’s hearts, and Jhanvi was shocked and heartwarming to see the response.
