Sahil Vaidya

My parents were traveling to Norway. On the last day of the trip, they had to take a cab to the station. After some time they found a driver.

While loading the luggage he overhead the group. And in a minute, he started speaking to them in Hindi. He was glad to learn that the group was Indian and indulged them in pleasant conversations.

Upon reaching the station, he apologized for not being able to drop them directly to the airport since he had to rush.

My mother appreciated his generosity and handed over the money.

But he refused to take the fare, leaving everyone puzzled.

That’s when he told everyone that he was from Pakistan.

They were his comrades and he couldn't even imagine charging them.

(Mind you, cabs there are super exorbitant)

He felt that the two nations were brothers- and it's always the young siblings that fight during childhood to grow up and become the best buddies.

He really wanted to give them the best possible experience and giving them a ride was the least he could do.

It was a heart-warming experience, one of those moments that made the trip particularly memorable.

Afzal Khan, the Pakistani cab driver from Norway, has forever etched himself into our memories with his esprit de corps and larger than life attitude!

#india #pakistan #travel

Most laptops crash exactly one day before the urgent deadline

Data owners are the new Arabs

When I ordered a coffee with oat milk at Starbucks, the staff asked if it’d be okay to add ice cream. I said it’d be fine. But a minute later, I asked if it was an extra cost. They just mentioned the total bill amount instead of confirming it was an extra cost indeed. So when I said I didn’t want it, I was told that they couldn’t change the bill and offered a gift card instead.

I’ve seen them do the same thing with the type of coffee beans as well- asking if you want a dark roast and then charging extra for it without telling the customer about the added cost transparently.

This is the same dark-patterns stuff we see on apps, but continuously and deviously applied in the real world. It’s high time Starbucks stops training its staff in the unsavory art of hidden upselling- it’ll only erode brand trust in the long term.

Every time someone says “If you wanted to do this agency business why did you even go to IIT and waste a seat“, I die a little inside.

No one possesses the foresight to tell how their lives would shape up a few years down the line and if their work would have even an iota of correlation with the degree hanging on their walls. So please, save your breath

People are so overworked, it’d be good to start social distancing between calendar slots too

Using social media as a stress-buster is like eating triple chocolate sundaes for weight reduction

Good news: 100% of the emails I’m sending out are getting quick replies

Bad news: 99% of those are auto-responses saying “Hey, I’m busy partying abroad while you slog at your desk, you lowlife”

Good that IPL got postponed before turning into Indian Positive League

Wonder how Mukesh Ambani reacts when he gets an SMS saying “Hot deal! Pre-Book 1 BHK in Bhandup for 10 Lakhs only”

I had a business meeting with the owner of a famous salon. When it ended, I left with much MORE than a prospective lead.

We spoke about the nitty gritties of the business.

It went on for a few hours.

And just when I was about to leave, he asked us something.

He checked if we’d be okay to talk over a foot massage.

“Why not?” I said. But there was a small catch.

The massage would be given by BLIND people.

You read it right.

He had scheduled a trial round (interview) with some blind people who were good at this.

If they did well, they’d be hired.

Their services would be rendered to customers waiting at the salons for FREE.

The massage felt great.

But what this person had planned felt even better.

Despite all the negativity surrounding us, a LOT of people are working towards making this world a better place.

I just hope I’ll be able to give back in such a beautiful way some day.

People who say ‘Digital is the future’ are living in the past

Starting today, all office politics must be facilitated via video calls