Still That Boy on the Bicycle
The morning sun was warm that day. The rusted bicycle creaked as my father pedaled through the narrow streets, taking me to school. I remember feeling proud, holding my bag tightly, the wind brushing against my face.
But that day became a turning point in my life.
As I stepped into class, my teacher looked at me and laughed. “Your father drops you on a cycle? Your family will never even afford a two-wheeler!”
The whole class laughed. I didn’t.
I just sat there quietly. But inside, I made a promise: One day, I’ll change this story.
Life didn’t make it easy. I wasn’t the topper. I wasn’t the lucky one. I struggled to get into a good college. I struggled to find a job. And when I finally did, it wasn’t a dream job. It was a toxic environment that tested my patience and sanity.
But I stayed. I learned. I grew.
Those four years became my toughest teachers. They taught me how to stay calm in chaos, how to keep walking when the road disappears.
And in 2021, I took my biggest leap. I started my own company. No rich relatives, no investors, no shortcuts. Just belief and endless nights of work.
Two years later, I bought my parents their dream home in one of the poshest areas of our city.
The same father who once dropped me to school on a cycle now stood at the door of his new home, holding the keys I gave him.
I didn’t say a word. I didn’t need to. That moment spoke everything I’d ever wanted to say.
From that small classroom, life took me places I had only seen on maps.
I’ve now travelled to 10+ countries and over 40 cities.
I’ve worked as an Advisor and Executive Director in international organizations, collaborating with top decision-makers across various governments.
I’ve been in boardrooms where global policies were being shaped and yet, none of it has ever changed who I am.
Because beneath the titles, the flights, and the applause, I’m still that same boy from the bicycle. Humble, Hungry, and Grounded.
My dream isn’t just to succeed for myself. I want to make India proud.
I want to make my parents proud. To show that their sacrifices became my foundation, not my excuse.
I’ve always lived by one rule. Either the best, or nothing at all.
I never wore a watch until I could buy the one I truly wanted; my Apple Watch.
My first phone was a Moto G3 my father bought on EMI. Then came a second-hand iPhone X. And now, an iPhone 15 Plus. Every upgrade has been earned, not gifted.
Even in style, I’m simple but sorted
Shoes: Nike.
Jeans: Levis or US Polo.
T-shirts: Lee, Raymond, Arrow, or Louis Philippe.
I don’t overthink. I don’t chase trends. I choose what defines me, not what defines status.
If there’s one area of life that’s tested me more than failures and success. It’s Relationships.
I’ve never been in one, not because I didn’t have opportunities, but because I’ve always been focused.
But the world today measures love differently.
In the journey of finding a life partner, I’ve seen a harsh truth. People don’t ask about values anymore; they check valuations.
They don’t ask about character; they ask about cars. They don’t see principles; they see properties.
For many, it’s perfectly fine if the man smokes or drinks as long as he has crores in his bank account. Even if he’s illiterate, as long as he’s rich, he’s “perfect.”
That’s the society we live in. A world where wealth has become more attractive than wisdom.
But I’ve made peace with that. Because I know my worth isn’t defined by my balance sheet.
I’m not the man who bends to fit in. I stand firm on my roots.
I know who I am. I know what I bring.
If someone can’t see that, it’s not my loss. It’s theirs.
I’ve learned that being single isn’t loneliness. It’s strength.
It’s choosing peace over pretense, and self-respect over shallow validation.
Despite everything the travels, the home, the achievements I’m still that boy who sat quietly when the world laughed at his father’s bicycle.
Today, I drive my car to work. I sit in meetings with global leaders. I run my own company.
But deep inside, I’m still that same boy who believes in hard work, respect, and gratitude.
My dream isn’t luxury. My dream is legacy.
I want to earn millions, maybe billions but not for myself, but to make an impact.
To create opportunities for others.
To inspire every child who’s been told “you can’t.”
And even if I reach the top I’ll still be the same man in Levis jeans, a dark blue t-shirt, and slippers, sipping chai and smiling at how far that boy on the bicycle came.
Because it is/was never about the money. It is/was and will be always about meaning.
Who Am I?
I’m that boy who was once mocked but never gave up.
That man who turned every failure into a foundation.
That dreamer who built his life from scratch.
That leader who never forgot his roots.And above all “I’m a son who wakes up every day trying to make his parents and his country proud.”
To every boy or girl who’s been laughed at, underestimated, or told that their dreams are too big remember this:
You don’t need approval to become successful. You just need belief.
Let your struggles shape your story. Let your setbacks sharpen your soul.
And when the world tells you what you can’t do, smile and show them what you will.Because one day, your story will become someone else’s motivation.
Keep walking. Keep believing. And never forget — your roots are your greatest strength.