Monali left for Switzerland to be with her boyfriend, Maik Richter, before the nationwide lockdown was announced
Ismat Tahseen (BOMBAY TIMES; April 10, 2020)

On March 13, a few weeks before the nationwide Coronavirus lockdown was announced, singer Monali Thakur left for Switzerland to be with her Swiss-German boyfriend, Maik Richter. The two had first met when Monali was on a vacation with her gal pals in 2016.

Talking to BT from Lauterbrunnen, the Moh Moh Ke Dhaage singer says, “I figured that there would be a lockdown with the way things were going. I wanted to first take care of my family in India, so I stocked up on provisions, medicines, etc for them and then left for Switzerland.”

Elaborating on how she is spending time against the beautiful backdrop of the Swiss Alps, Monali shares, “We are not homebound like how it is in India. Though we do not have any restaurants, pubs or public areas open except for groceries, banks, hospitals, postal services etc, we can step out. So, I’m biking all day, and I love cycling through the mountains by myself. It is so amazing, being amidst nature. When I’m not outdoors, I record songs in the home studio here. I’m also cooking for my better half.”

About the dishes she is cooking up for her boyfriend, Monali says, “I’m having fun experimenting in the kitchen. I cook a lot of Indian dishes, like dal, which my extended family loves. Maik is also fond of Indian spices, but the ones that are available here have a firang touch. So, we are missing our Indian spices.” She adds, “Maik’s family has a big farmhouse here. Since it’s in the mountain region, it’s peaceful.”

So, are there plans for a wedding this summer? “You never know, it could be next summer. I’ll definitely share more on that whenever it happens,” she signs off.