the greatest treasures in life are those that cannot be bought by money
over the last few years, i’ve gathered some real gems along the way. the people who truly matter to me. the ones who stand by me, guide me, help me grow, and most importantly, the ones who love me unconditionally — these are the real treasures of my life. as robin sharma wisely says, "people come into your life for reasons, seasons, or a lifetime." this is my way of cherishing and thanking the ones who are here for my lifetime.
the boys
i’ve had a pretty fulfilling school life — studied in the same school from grade 3 to grade 10, made lifelong friends, and always loved the limelight. i was that kid who was intelligent yet mischievous, which meant i was friends with almost everyone in my batch. out of all the people i met, my boys are still by my side. akash, my oldest friend — we met back in 2009 when he was in kindergarten, and i was in first grade. we've literally grown together. from our shared love for supercars as kids to now building careers in the startup ecosystem as creators, and aspiring entrepreneurs and investors. the funny part? in 16 years of our friendship, we only have 2–3 pictures together — first one was clicked in 2022! pranay, another one of my oldest friends — we met in 2009 too, in third grade. smart as hell, always sharing my love for math, physics, and chemistry. we even studied for india’s national engineering exams together from 2018–20. i wouldn't have made it through that phase without him. he’s the most mischievous guy in the group, and is always up to something. fast forward 16 years, and we now talk about his interest in tech and my passion for business — such a complementary thing! i’m proud to call him a friend. then there’s piyush, who came into my life in 7th grade, 2013. he’s the one who’s been with me through the storms when no one else was around. he probably knows me better than i know myself. same growth mindset, same ambition for life, same values, same fun, same habit of studying the greats — just two different worlds. his career in films, mine in business. and i wouldn’t change it for anything. i miss those days when we sat on the last bench in 10th-b together, laughing till our stomachs hurt during school lectures. rohan, whom i met with piyush in 2013 is the guy in our group who gets the most teasing. extremely wise, practical, supportive, and fun-loving. he’s almost never serious about anything but somehow the most mature, teaching me the importance of family and money. can’t thank him enough for those practical life insights. always looking forward to more fun with him. sarvadnya, whom i also met in 2013 in 7th grade (rohan, piyush, sarvadnya and i were in the same class in 7th-b), shares my love for photography and filmmaking. probably the most sleeper-comedy guy in the group with whom i could laugh endlessly. vedant, whom i met in 2014 in 8th grade (pranay, piyush, rohan, vedant and i were in the same class in 8th-b) is probably the most husband-material guy in our group. obedient, sincere, naive, with sleeper comic timing. i miss those days when we’d stay back an hour after school to chat about everything — gossips, daily events, and then cycle back home together. aaryan, whom i met in 2018 through piyush. we didn’t get much time together because of academic commitments in high school and university, but i always look forward to spending more time with him. put all of them together, and you can imagine the fun we’ve had. so many funny events — discussions, trips, sleepovers, hangouts, outings, parties for so many years — that there’s too many to share here. but i’m glad to say that i spent the 'good old days' of my life with these people. we’ve all grown up together. the boys. i miss you all as i sit here in my room in nyc, smiling ear-to-ear while writing this.
the best of undergrad
i made a lot of friends throughout college, but only a few really stuck around after we graduated in may 2024. adulthood is a weird phase — everyone makes tons of friends in their first year of undergrad, but as life moves on, only a handful stay through it all. i’m still in touch with a bunch, but these are the ones who’ve truly been there. i met dheeraj in my third semester, and now we’re out here at nyu together, living the student life we worked so hard for. we bonded in the library in 2022 over school stories and jee struggles, and somehow, that turned into a lifelong friendship, which will also turn into a bunch of business partnerships down the line. can’t imagine doing half the things or carrying half the confidence here in nyc without him by my side. dhruvin — my undergrad flatmate, and honestly, a huge reason i even made it through pict and to nyu. he’s the one who introduced me to writing on x, journaling, thinking clearly, and staying calm when life didn’t go my way. his impact on my life is something i’ll always be grateful for. and then there’s priyal — my biggest cheerleader, and the one who’s been with me through it all. we met in my second semester, and since then, she’s supported me through endless assignments, exams, frustrations, helped me understand my true potential and navigate my dreams. she’s taught me to slow down and enjoy the little things in life, and live in a way that feels grounded and fulfilling. i appreciate her more than she probably knows. and last but not least, nitin sir — my mentor during my undergrad days. he believed in me and my potential even when i couldn’t see it in myself. and he still does, even today. my guiding light.
family
i think one of the best things that happened in my teenage years is that my family became my best friends and biggest supporters. my mom, the one who instilled in me the love for math, physics, and chemistry since i was young, always pushing me to work harder, aim higher, and be the best at whatever i do. my dad, whose life journey itself is something i look up to every day. he’s the one who got me into cars, sketching, and cinema, and somehow, he managed to turn a fun-loving, mischievous kid into a guy with big dreams and a sense of responsibility. my grandfather — his story has shaped me more than i can explain. he’s the one who made me love reading, value a solid education, and understand the power of being a good communicator, all while still knowing how to have fun in life. my grandmother — she’s taught me that above everything else, being a kind, loving, and responsible person is what truly matters. and then there’s my younger brother, tanush — our bond is built on a mix of love and fights, but no matter what, he’s always my guy — a true artist at heart. i’ve seen love firsthand in my family — between my parents, my grandparents — always supporting each other through everything. growing up in that environment has had such a positive impact on me. honestly, i wouldn’t be half the person i am today without them. additionally, my extended maternal family has had a very positive impact on me, which i deeply value.
conclusion
every single person i’ve mentioned above came to see me off at the airport when i left for nyu in aug 2024. it was one of those moments when i couldn’t help but think of gwen stacy’s speech from the amazing spider-man 2 — "as we look around here today, at all of the people who helped make us who we are, i know it feels like we're saying goodbye, but we will carry a piece of each other into everything that we do next, to remind us of who we are, and of who we're meant to be." no matter what life throws my way, i know i’ll always carry the love, lessons, and support from these incredible people with me — the real treasures of my life.