The interiors have been done up in a tasteful, modern style, with soft greens and blues dominating the colour scheme to reflect the serenity of the sea. I wanted the beauty of nature to seamlessly blend with my urban lifestyle. A comfortable yellow suede couch sits by the French windows, inviting you to relax and take in the panoramic vista outside. The modern kitchenette on the right is compact but equipped with all the modern gadgets possible. It’s perfect for me, and I can feel the sea breeze on my face when I cook in the late evenings. In my bedroom, I’ve got a plush bed that’s been positioned strategically to offer glimpses of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. What can I say, I got extremely lucky with this apartment. The owner had curated this paradise for himself, but he had to urgently move to Singapore, and I became his first renter!

The first guest I’ve invited to this apartment is Mr Mehta, my portfolio manager. I’ve asked him to come over for breakfast. He’s an old man with weathered features and a few strands of grey on his head. He exudes wisdom, having spent decades managing his family-owned business. His eyes, etched with stories of resilience, reflect the entrepreneurial spirit that has sustained his legacy. But he doesn’t quite understand the modern valuations of startups; he’s always been that bottom-line profit-oriented guy. But his conservative approach to investing helps me a lot since I’m not very good at managing my personal finances. My dad had introduced me to him a few years back when I was struggling with my first startup. This was right after college, and Mr Mehta has been with me through thick and thin since then.

He was quite shocked by my invitation when I texted him on WhatsApp. He has always known me as this laid-back college boy who would rather order food than cook it himself. But I’m enjoying cooking, for myself and others. I’ve seen Mehta Uncle ordering eggs, sunny side up, for breakfast whenever we’ve met at some fancy breakfast place. And today, he’ll taste heaven when I prepare them for him. And yes, I have some freshly baked bread as well.

When the doorbell rings a little later, I hurry over to usher him in.

‘What a pleasure to be here, beta!’ he says as he steps in and takes a quick look around the place.

‘Thanks, Uncle.’

I take him to the small breakfast table I’ve set up on the balcony and ask him to sit while I bring everything out from the kitchen. He nods and takes a seat, and then waits for me patiently while I bustle around, carrying things back and forth from the kitchen. When I finally sit down in front of him with a vegan pancake I’ve made for myself, he digs into his eggs with enthusiasm.