Greetings friends. I am finally returning to India today.
After 514 days without seeing my parents in law and relatives.
And without having stepped foot in India in that long.
My 500 day blacklisting has ended.
मेरे साथ हुआ क्या? Now here's what happened.
So I left India in Oct, 2020 to go traveling in Dubai and in Pakistan.
When I left through the New Delhi International airport, they canceled my visa.
They called me into the Indian High Commission in Dubai and they told me in person that,
"Karl, you've been blacklisted and we can't issue you a visa to go home to India."
This is gonna be a very emotional video I think. I'm already feeling, like,
I've just been feeling nervous for the last 48 hrs knowing that I'm coming home.
And I just can't wait to see my family.
And even though I have the visa it doesn't mean anything.
I still have to go through immigration once I get to India.
I don't know what's gonna happen.
So yeah, let's go and find out and let's get me home.
The driver is from Pakistan.
And first thing he did, his eyes popped out when he saw me walk out of the hotel.
It's been such a struggle to get back to my family.
These last 514 days have been the hardest days of my life actually.
So we've been attacked online.
We've had to take the Government to Delhi High Court and challenge them there.
Manisha hasn't been able to join me for that time because she has responsibilities in India.
And I just missed my family terribly.
It's so harsh to be kept away from your family like that for so long.
But you know what? It has made me stronger.
It's made me really strong. I'm not afraid.
Thank God that I married into an Indian family because Indian family is so strong.
And they're always there for you, they'll always fight for you.
Especially a Haryanvi family, am I right? Tell me in the comments.
I think a lot of foreigners who've married into Indian families
Would have realized this pretty soon after marriage that
Your parents in law (सास ससुर) they take you on as their son.
It's really heartwarming, it's really incredible.
So yeah, that's the strength of Indian family and yeah thank God, I have that strength behind me.
We were so happy to meet in Nepal.
It's been 397 days since Karl left India.
It was few days before my birthday.
And he got me a cake, we had an early celebration and then he left.
He thought he'll travel in Dubai & Pakistan & then come back.
But when he tried to come back, we found out that he was blacklisted.
We spent the next few months time to figure out what to do.
I ran from FRRO office to Home Ministry office but no one would meet us.
We wrote so many emails; probably half of the office has our email in their inbox.
But no response for months.
And then we realized, going to the court was the only option left.
So we did that, and we are on it, and we will get Karl back.
But meanwhile, I am finally getting to meet him.
Next time, we'll meet in India. –I hope so too.
As soon as I get back to India, that'll be the best thing to finally meet you guys.
I thought I'd quietly fly into Delhi.
But I've met so many of you guys here at the airport.
So many of you are on my flight or you're Pakistani and you're going somewhere else.
So thank you so much for all your support. You don't know what that means.
When I would read your names on my petition.
When I would scroll down and see all the different locations where you are in the world.
It gave me and Manisha great strength to see all of you people supporting us.
Thank you for your support. I can't wait to get home.
I'm nearly home. I'm feeling very happy. I'm feeling excited.
I'm feeling just overwhelmed because my feet are gonna be back on Indian soil very soon.
I'm gonna bend over, I'll touch my parents-in-law's feet.
I'll hug my wife and I'll see my family and yeah I'll be home.
India is my home and India is where I belong. So let's go.
Well, welcome back Karl. We've all missed you.
I remember starting our journey with that initial bike ride
that got you hurt. But that was a memorable experience.
Excited or nervous? –Both.
Excited, nervous, happy. –Mixed emotions.
Thousand emotions running.
I was laughing at the idea and I said, 'you know what Papa said?'
And Karl goes, 'That's a great idea. Get them!'
So they both are on the same frequency.
Buying sweets for Karl. His favourite Emarti and Motichoor.
At this very moment, you can see that something is not right.
I'd called Manisha and said,
"Babe the Immigration Officer has stopped me and told me to take a seat."
"I haven't seen him in 20 minutes. I don't know if I'm gonna make it."
What happened? –They let him through.
They've taken down my number. –I can see the change of emotion on your face now.
Karl is coming. Hello?
Are you ready? –Yes. Are you?
We both are ready.
Nice to see you finally.
You alright bro?
Welcome back Karl. –Thank you bro.
How you doing, feeling good? –Really good man.
Oh my God. Bro it was so difficult. So the first thing that happened,
I got chosen for a random COVID test as soon as I got off the flight.
And so I had to do this covid test and then I had to pay for it myself.
So fine, ok, whatever. Then I get to Immigration and they're like...
Something is wrong on the computer. Something's wrong.
They are like, "Wait here."
And 15 minutes goes by. I'm like, "Oh, man!"
I'm calling Manisha, "Nah I'm not coming. I don't know what's gonna happen."
Last time they told me to wait, they canceled the visa and you know what happened.
Then they come back and their question is, "Why did you go to Pakistan?"
That was what had come up on their system, so that was fine.
I just told 'em about my wife and that I'm here to meet my whole family.
Guy's like, "Ok fine, go."
And yeah here I am. I'm so happy to be back.
I'm so relieved. –Us too.
The moment you told me that immigration has stopped you we were all like, "Oh no!"
I know. Me too, me too!
Let's go home, na.
How was it? –Man, that's the type of welcome you get here in India.
Epic. It's awesome. I'm so happy you can see how happy I am to be home.
Yet to see lot of things in Hansi. –Yeah. This is gonna continue.
The greetings are gonna continue through Haryana and Rajasthan.
Meet Enzo...
Oh I'm home.
514 days, right? –Yeah, 514 days I haven't been here. Crazy!
Beautiful. They've changed the house a little bit.
Seems like a new renovation.
So Manisha can do some of her fashion stuff here on Instagram and YouTube.
It's good cuz I just ran out of perfume.
Nice, thank you babe.
Oh, what does this say? "Welcome back!"
Come with me.
Look at what they're making.
Just waiting. We're gonna eat.
I'm gonna have my first lot of food from home, like home-cooked food.
Excited? –Yeah, I'm excited to be eating my Mum's food again.
I haven't had home-cooked food in like, yeah, 514 days.
Since I walked out this door
and found out that I couldn't come back.
क्या बात है !
Thank you so much. शुक्रिया धन्यवाद !
Yum, look at this. This is what I have been waiting for.
I've been waiting to come home and have Aloo Parantha, Dahi and Hari Chutney.
This is the best meal.
Man, so good!
How is it?
Perfect, bro. Perfect now.
That's the end.
We're just gonna chill out now and
we're gonna be travelling around India now visiting family and friends.
We'll take you on that journey too to Manisha's hometown
And then to our village in Rajasthan as well.
We've gotta thank you guys all for standing by us.
For being there for us.
For signing that petition. Leaving your name and where you're from.
I said earlier in the video, it gave me & Manisha lot of strength
reading all your names & locations as we scrolled down over 160,000 people
who signed that petition to get me back to India.
And here we are. We're back.
And, thank you.