Year in Review – 2024
Dec 19, 2024
Dec 19, 2024
Dec 19, 2024
Dec 19, 2024
I woke up at 4:30 am last Tuesday and found myself reflecting on the year gone by. Moved back home, then moved cities. Two new jobs. Time spent with family. Home felt different in the absence of some close ones.
It’s been an eventful year, but when I think about the memories that stand out, they all share one thread: friendship.
In January, moving back from Pittsburgh to Mumbai wasn’t as bittersweet as I expected. The year after graduation was fun—thanks to Archita. Weekday dinners, city explorations, and lazy brunches became our rhythm. But with her move to Milwaukee looming, I knew the city wouldn’t feel the same.
Before leaving, I tweeted that I wanted to explore Mumbai the way I had New York. Even though I’ve spent most of my life in this city, I’d never seen it through a tourist’s eyes. Kartik, replied with his flight tickets. Together, we explored Mumbai for a week.
I joined Future Factory soon after—a short stint but something I’d always wanted: to work in a studio environment. What I didn’t expect was to leave with five new friends (more on this later).
Ambar, who had recently returned to India after his time in Dublin, joined WongDoody (WD) in Bangalore. Within his first week, he reached out and asked if I’d want to work with him. Why not?
Trish got married in Kochi in a beautiful humanist ceremony. Every event reflected her personality. I have never seen anyone enjoy their weddings the way they did. I was her only CMU friend who could make it, and she made me feel so special on her big day.
Archita visited Mumbai to meet Manas' family, her soon-to-be in-laws. She set aside a full day for me, and we hopped across the city using five modes of transport. In 12 hours, we covered everything from Andheri to Fort. It was like being back in Pittsburgh.
Then came the Bangalore move. Somehow, I’ve always gotten lucky with having to move with just one bag while everything else is magically ready. This time, it was thanks to a friend from my Manipal days.
Bangalore brought its own joy. Friends from Manipal, CMU, and Ambar’s eclectic mix of friends-of-friends quickly became one of my own circles. WD became my favorite workplace almost instantly—not just for the work but for the people. Some of these friendships will outlast our shared workplace.
And then came the biggest surprise. Anuj was visiting in July, so I booked a table at Toit, expecting a casual evening with Subham, Sid, and Ambar. But one by one, in walked Hemant, Manas K (Manipal friend, not to be confused with Archita's Manas), and Kartik. The night before, they had decided on a whim to surprise me, booking early-morning flights to Bangalore. The weekend turned into an unforgettable party. Prakhar, who was initially busy, took a late-night flight, landed just in time for a marathon at Cubbon Park, and joined us mid-dosa at Rameshwaram Cafe.
It’s been a year of serendipity. Those five friends from Future Factory? Four of them moved to Bangalore, and two now work with me at WD. For the first time, I’m surrounded by more friends than ever before.
Anne is another highlight. She’s turning her dreams into reality with her Eleven AM Club—intimate Sunday gatherings in her home, so popular they now have waitlists of over 100 people. I have the distinct honor of a standing invite to every event.
November brought Tanvi to Bangalore after more than a year apart. At CMU, we were like two mischievous kids, always scheming together.
December was the grand finale: Archita and Manas’ wedding in Delhi. It was the highlight of my year and brought Raghvi back to India, giving us the chance to explore our 8th city together.
The wedding started with a bachelorette that mashed up Archita’s two favorites—McDonald’s and Bridgerton. Raghvi and I spent the night catching up, and the days that followed were filled with reunions, city explorations with Kartik, and time with undergrad friends I hadn’t seen in four years. The wedding itself was an emotional whirlwind. Archita made sure we, her friends, never left her line of sight. It was a beautiful, overwhelming experience that I’m still processing.
As the year ends, I’m grateful. Grateful for the friends who made this year unforgettable. Grateful for the connections, new and old, that turned moments into memories.
If you’ve read this far, thank you for joining me on this little reflection. And if we’re not friends yet, well—there’s always next year.
I woke up at 4:30 am last Tuesday and found myself reflecting on the year gone by. Moved back home, then moved cities. Two new jobs. Time spent with family. Home felt different in the absence of some close ones.
It’s been an eventful year, but when I think about the memories that stand out, they all share one thread: friendship.
In January, moving back from Pittsburgh to Mumbai wasn’t as bittersweet as I expected. The year after graduation was fun—thanks to Archita. Weekday dinners, city explorations, and lazy brunches became our rhythm. But with her move to Milwaukee looming, I knew the city wouldn’t feel the same.
Before leaving, I tweeted that I wanted to explore Mumbai the way I had New York. Even though I’ve spent most of my life in this city, I’d never seen it through a tourist’s eyes. Kartik, replied with his flight tickets. Together, we explored Mumbai for a week.
I joined Future Factory soon after—a short stint but something I’d always wanted: to work in a studio environment. What I didn’t expect was to leave with five new friends (more on this later).
Ambar, who had recently returned to India after his time in Dublin, joined WongDoody (WD) in Bangalore. Within his first week, he reached out and asked if I’d want to work with him. Why not?
Trish got married in Kochi in a beautiful humanist ceremony. Every event reflected her personality. I have never seen anyone enjoy their weddings the way they did. I was her only CMU friend who could make it, and she made me feel so special on her big day.
Archita visited Mumbai to meet Manas' family, her soon-to-be in-laws. She set aside a full day for me, and we hopped across the city using five modes of transport. In 12 hours, we covered everything from Andheri to Fort. It was like being back in Pittsburgh.
Then came the Bangalore move. Somehow, I’ve always gotten lucky with having to move with just one bag while everything else is magically ready. This time, it was thanks to a friend from my Manipal days.
Bangalore brought its own joy. Friends from Manipal, CMU, and Ambar’s eclectic mix of friends-of-friends quickly became one of my own circles. WD became my favorite workplace almost instantly—not just for the work but for the people. Some of these friendships will outlast our shared workplace.
And then came the biggest surprise. Anuj was visiting in July, so I booked a table at Toit, expecting a casual evening with Subham, Sid, and Ambar. But one by one, in walked Hemant, Manas K (Manipal friend, not to be confused with Archita's Manas), and Kartik. The night before, they had decided on a whim to surprise me, booking early-morning flights to Bangalore. The weekend turned into an unforgettable party. Prakhar, who was initially busy, took a late-night flight, landed just in time for a marathon at Cubbon Park, and joined us mid-dosa at Rameshwaram Cafe.
It’s been a year of serendipity. Those five friends from Future Factory? Four of them moved to Bangalore, and two now work with me at WD. For the first time, I’m surrounded by more friends than ever before.
Anne is another highlight. She’s turning her dreams into reality with her Eleven AM Club—intimate Sunday gatherings in her home, so popular they now have waitlists of over 100 people. I have the distinct honor of a standing invite to every event.
November brought Tanvi to Bangalore after more than a year apart. At CMU, we were like two mischievous kids, always scheming together.
December was the grand finale: Archita and Manas’ wedding in Delhi. It was the highlight of my year and brought Raghvi back to India, giving us the chance to explore our 8th city together.
The wedding started with a bachelorette that mashed up Archita’s two favorites—McDonald’s and Bridgerton. Raghvi and I spent the night catching up, and the days that followed were filled with reunions, city explorations with Kartik, and time with undergrad friends I hadn’t seen in four years. The wedding itself was an emotional whirlwind. Archita made sure we, her friends, never left her line of sight. It was a beautiful, overwhelming experience that I’m still processing.
As the year ends, I’m grateful. Grateful for the friends who made this year unforgettable. Grateful for the connections, new and old, that turned moments into memories.
If you’ve read this far, thank you for joining me on this little reflection. And if we’re not friends yet, well—there’s always next year.
I woke up at 4:30 am last Tuesday and found myself reflecting on the year gone by. Moved back home, then moved cities. Two new jobs. Time spent with family. Home felt different in the absence of some close ones.
It’s been an eventful year, but when I think about the memories that stand out, they all share one thread: friendship.
In January, moving back from Pittsburgh to Mumbai wasn’t as bittersweet as I expected. The year after graduation was fun—thanks to Archita. Weekday dinners, city explorations, and lazy brunches became our rhythm. But with her move to Milwaukee looming, I knew the city wouldn’t feel the same.
Before leaving, I tweeted that I wanted to explore Mumbai the way I had New York. Even though I’ve spent most of my life in this city, I’d never seen it through a tourist’s eyes. Kartik, replied with his flight tickets. Together, we explored Mumbai for a week.
I joined Future Factory soon after—a short stint but something I’d always wanted: to work in a studio environment. What I didn’t expect was to leave with five new friends (more on this later).
Ambar, who had recently returned to India after his time in Dublin, joined WongDoody (WD) in Bangalore. Within his first week, he reached out and asked if I’d want to work with him. Why not?
Trish got married in Kochi in a beautiful humanist ceremony. Every event reflected her personality. I have never seen anyone enjoy their weddings the way they did. I was her only CMU friend who could make it, and she made me feel so special on her big day.
Archita visited Mumbai to meet Manas' family, her soon-to-be in-laws. She set aside a full day for me, and we hopped across the city using five modes of transport. In 12 hours, we covered everything from Andheri to Fort. It was like being back in Pittsburgh.
Then came the Bangalore move. Somehow, I’ve always gotten lucky with having to move with just one bag while everything else is magically ready. This time, it was thanks to a friend from my Manipal days.
Bangalore brought its own joy. Friends from Manipal, CMU, and Ambar’s eclectic mix of friends-of-friends quickly became one of my own circles. WD became my favorite workplace almost instantly—not just for the work but for the people. Some of these friendships will outlast our shared workplace.
And then came the biggest surprise. Anuj was visiting in July, so I booked a table at Toit, expecting a casual evening with Subham, Sid, and Ambar. But one by one, in walked Hemant, Manas K (Manipal friend, not to be confused with Archita's Manas), and Kartik. The night before, they had decided on a whim to surprise me, booking early-morning flights to Bangalore. The weekend turned into an unforgettable party. Prakhar, who was initially busy, took a late-night flight, landed just in time for a marathon at Cubbon Park, and joined us mid-dosa at Rameshwaram Cafe.
It’s been a year of serendipity. Those five friends from Future Factory? Four of them moved to Bangalore, and two now work with me at WD. For the first time, I’m surrounded by more friends than ever before.
Anne is another highlight. She’s turning her dreams into reality with her Eleven AM Club—intimate Sunday gatherings in her home, so popular they now have waitlists of over 100 people. I have the distinct honor of a standing invite to every event.
November brought Tanvi to Bangalore after more than a year apart. At CMU, we were like two mischievous kids, always scheming together.
December was the grand finale: Archita and Manas’ wedding in Delhi. It was the highlight of my year and brought Raghvi back to India, giving us the chance to explore our 8th city together.
The wedding started with a bachelorette that mashed up Archita’s two favorites—McDonald’s and Bridgerton. Raghvi and I spent the night catching up, and the days that followed were filled with reunions, city explorations with Kartik, and time with undergrad friends I hadn’t seen in four years. The wedding itself was an emotional whirlwind. Archita made sure we, her friends, never left her line of sight. It was a beautiful, overwhelming experience that I’m still processing.
As the year ends, I’m grateful. Grateful for the friends who made this year unforgettable. Grateful for the connections, new and old, that turned moments into memories.
If you’ve read this far, thank you for joining me on this little reflection. And if we’re not friends yet, well—there’s always next year.
I woke up at 4:30 am last Tuesday and found myself reflecting on the year gone by. Moved back home, then moved cities. Two new jobs. Time spent with family. Home felt different in the absence of some close ones.
It’s been an eventful year, but when I think about the memories that stand out, they all share one thread: friendship.
In January, moving back from Pittsburgh to Mumbai wasn’t as bittersweet as I expected. The year after graduation was fun—thanks to Archita. Weekday dinners, city explorations, and lazy brunches became our rhythm. But with her move to Milwaukee looming, I knew the city wouldn’t feel the same.
Before leaving, I tweeted that I wanted to explore Mumbai the way I had New York. Even though I’ve spent most of my life in this city, I’d never seen it through a tourist’s eyes. Kartik, replied with his flight tickets. Together, we explored Mumbai for a week.
I joined Future Factory soon after—a short stint but something I’d always wanted: to work in a studio environment. What I didn’t expect was to leave with five new friends (more on this later).
Ambar, who had recently returned to India after his time in Dublin, joined WongDoody (WD) in Bangalore. Within his first week, he reached out and asked if I’d want to work with him. Why not?
Trish got married in Kochi in a beautiful humanist ceremony. Every event reflected her personality. I have never seen anyone enjoy their weddings the way they did. I was her only CMU friend who could make it, and she made me feel so special on her big day.
Archita visited Mumbai to meet Manas' family, her soon-to-be in-laws. She set aside a full day for me, and we hopped across the city using five modes of transport. In 12 hours, we covered everything from Andheri to Fort. It was like being back in Pittsburgh.
Then came the Bangalore move. Somehow, I’ve always gotten lucky with having to move with just one bag while everything else is magically ready. This time, it was thanks to a friend from my Manipal days.
Bangalore brought its own joy. Friends from Manipal, CMU, and Ambar’s eclectic mix of friends-of-friends quickly became one of my own circles. WD became my favorite workplace almost instantly—not just for the work but for the people. Some of these friendships will outlast our shared workplace.
And then came the biggest surprise. Anuj was visiting in July, so I booked a table at Toit, expecting a casual evening with Subham, Sid, and Ambar. But one by one, in walked Hemant, Manas K (Manipal friend, not to be confused with Archita's Manas), and Kartik. The night before, they had decided on a whim to surprise me, booking early-morning flights to Bangalore. The weekend turned into an unforgettable party. Prakhar, who was initially busy, took a late-night flight, landed just in time for a marathon at Cubbon Park, and joined us mid-dosa at Rameshwaram Cafe.
It’s been a year of serendipity. Those five friends from Future Factory? Four of them moved to Bangalore, and two now work with me at WD. For the first time, I’m surrounded by more friends than ever before.
Anne is another highlight. She’s turning her dreams into reality with her Eleven AM Club—intimate Sunday gatherings in her home, so popular they now have waitlists of over 100 people. I have the distinct honor of a standing invite to every event.
November brought Tanvi to Bangalore after more than a year apart. At CMU, we were like two mischievous kids, always scheming together.
December was the grand finale: Archita and Manas’ wedding in Delhi. It was the highlight of my year and brought Raghvi back to India, giving us the chance to explore our 8th city together.
The wedding started with a bachelorette that mashed up Archita’s two favorites—McDonald’s and Bridgerton. Raghvi and I spent the night catching up, and the days that followed were filled with reunions, city explorations with Kartik, and time with undergrad friends I hadn’t seen in four years. The wedding itself was an emotional whirlwind. Archita made sure we, her friends, never left her line of sight. It was a beautiful, overwhelming experience that I’m still processing.
As the year ends, I’m grateful. Grateful for the friends who made this year unforgettable. Grateful for the connections, new and old, that turned moments into memories.
If you’ve read this far, thank you for joining me on this little reflection. And if we’re not friends yet, well—there’s always next year.
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