‘Agreed. Fintech has been booming here for the longest time. And with the growing dependency on cashless transactions and digital banking, there’s a lot of room for innovation and further progress,’ I share my thoughts candidly.

‘Absolutely. India’s fintech scene has been making waves globally. Another area I’m interested in is EdTech. With the shift to remote learning, there’s a growing demand for online education platforms and tools,’ he adds.

‘Oh, definitely. We’ve seen a mushrooming of EdTech startups catering to students of all ages. It’s amazing how technology is democratizing access to education. And let’s not ignore the boom in the creator economy! People creating content from the remotest corners of India, even after the government banned the Chinese app Yik-Yok, is just crazy!’

‘Ah! India and China have been the closest of pals, isn’t it? Just like the US and China!’ Smith winks.

The waiter comes to take our orders just then.

‘Fresh lime soda for me,’ Smith orders loudly.

‘A filter coffee,’ I say. ‘What would you like to have for breakfast?’ I ask Smith. ‘They have an American breakfast platter which is the best in the city. The last time I hosted an American friend here, he loved it.’

‘All right, I’ll go with that then. What will you have?’

‘I’ll have an idli-sambhar.’

Once the waiter repeats our order and leaves, Smith immediately resumes our conversation with enthusiasm. He sure means business.

‘And let’s not forget about sustainability. The pandemic has brought environmental issues into sharper focus.’

‘Absolutely. India’s commitment to renewable energy is stronger than ever. There’s plenty of room for investment and innovation there as well,’ I say.

‘It’s great to hear that. Looks like India is poised for some exciting developments ahead. You better keep me posted about things. I would love to invest in all these areas!’

When our breakfast arrives, we continue to eat and talk. I love meeting people. I love discussing new ideas and travelling to exotic places. And I’m glad to have made life choices that ensure I have the time and luxury to do so. I ditched a day zero placement offer from Microsoft to pursue entrepreneurship. I could’ve been working in Silicon Valley and living the grand American life, but I chose to follow my destiny in India.

I look down at my watch and realize that we’ve been talking for well over an hour. ‘You have a flight to catch to California, right?’ I ask Smith. ‘I don’t trust the Mumbai airport, or the traffic. You should leave now if you want to make it in time.’

‘Damn, yes. It’s Christmas Eve. My wife will butcher me for Christmas dinner if I don’t reach in time. Better rush!’ Smith laughs as he gets up.