Saurav Rathore

Investor & Author | SauravRathore.Com |

[notokentrepreneur]

Why I Cried During My First Solo Trip?

In the year 2016, I started traveling alone for the very first time to overcome my fears. I read somewhere you must travel alone it helps you learn a lot.

I googled where I can start so that I can get back home by Monday — I could not afford to quit my job at that time.

One of my school friends whom I call Bhandari Sahab helped me to decide where I can go first as he is from Pauri, Uttarakhand.

“Mukteshwar was the place we decided finally”

I was a bit tentative. To be honest!

Why I was tentative?

Traveling alone was the condition and I had never traveled alone before. I didn’t know how to catch a bus or how to reach Mukteshwar.

Nevermind! Bhandari told me to reach Haldwani and from there you can reach Mukteshwar.

I went to my parents and asked for permission. My family wasn’t sure about that -

I told my mother “I need to overcome my fears to sustain. I am afraid of everything. I am unable to make even the simplest decisions on my own”

I got their permission.

I still remember I was reluctant while packing my bags. I guess fear was there.

It was a Friday evening. Everything was set. I was faking — how excited I was in front of my family so that they won’t get worried.

Bye! See you on Monday I said”

I took the bus to Haldwani.

I reached Haldwani in the early morning and from there on I had to catch a local bus for Mukteshwar.

You won’t get buses frequently in the mountains. So, I waited after reaching Haldwani.

Luckily! After a couple of minutes, I got on the bus…

After a couple of hours, I was able to see the Himalayan Range covered with snow.

I got tears in my eyes. I have never seen such things in my life. It was surreal.

“Where were you all those years,” I asked myself

A couple of hours later I reached Mukteshwar.

I searched for hotels. I found one homestay.

Freshened up and went for breakfast!

It was a bright sunny day although it was very cold.

After having breakfast. I roamed around, saw some beautiful places.

BUT, I got disinterested as the day passed by…

As the sun began to set, everything started looking dismal. I was restless. I didn’t like it anymore.

I was feeling homesick suddenly!

I started getting bad thoughts.

“You must decide what is the highest value in your life”

Freedom or Bondage?

I was in mountains. I was totally free. Nobody was around me STILL I was not feeling free, I was lost.

“To enjoy freedom one needs certain clarity and courage”

I FEEL I WAS NOT READY OR I CAN SAY I WAS NOT COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO HANDLE THAT FREEDOM.

After living so many years like a caged bird. I was suffering immensely in that freedom.

I realized that I wasn’t ready…

I asked some locals if there is any bus for Haldwani?

They said “no bus now but you can hire a taxi”

I packed my bags again and ran to catch the taxi. I paid double to get back to my home the same day.

[notokentrepreneur]

What did you do with your first salary?

Migration is tough especially when you are doing so to thrive. We used to live in a joint family with Migration is tough especially when you are doing so to thrive.

We used to live in a joint family with grandparents. I didn’t get any formal education until I turned 8 years old – the reason was simple my grandmother always wanted to see me in front of her eyes. We both were more attached to each other than anything else in the world. She used to take me wherever she goes.

My mother was worried while thinking about my future. The world was changing too fast and coming from a farmer’s family she did not want me to live that comfortable but dirt-poor life.

She talked to my father and made him agree to relocate somewhere else where they can provide us good quality of education.

After facing resistance from my grandparents we decided to move on to Delhi. The day was being decided, bags were packed – filled with necessary groceries and other stuff. We all were crying.

I was praying “God please help me!

Please help me! Do something so that this migration gets cancelled”

But Nothing happened! My prayers fell short.

After an hour we were at the main bus station, I was still crying. The bus arrived and we boarded. One way after another. Cities were passing by one after another in front of my eyes.

One day and everything changed for me suddenly “No old friends, no silly games…nothing”

We reached somewhere at the restaurant (restroom). The bus driver turned the lights on and said “we are here for the next 20 minutes, you guys can have dinner and all”

Hawkers were there selling their items here and there. I could listen to the music on the radio somewhere played distantly.

This little boy next to me bought something from a hawker, I was starring at him continuously. It was a bottle filled with colored liquid.

I asked my mother – what is that?

She replied – That is a sweet soft drink

I mumbled something…

My mother after seeing me bought a bottle of Coca-Cola and gave it to me…I was damn happy.

One small bottle and we were four siblings. We sipped it one by one. Clearly, it was not enough for me.

BUT, that day I decided  “Whenever I will have enough money, I will drink as much cola as I can”

That day is clearly visible to me. That vivid memory of getting my first salary, I earned by giving tuition classes to junior students. I went to the grocery store just after getting the salary.

I drank Coca-Cola and finished 3-4 bottles one after another

That was sweet. That was satisfying.

[notokentrepreneur]

Why do you want to wake up the next morning? Why would I wake up? Who cares? I know my absence won’t make a big difference We tend to get these thoughts. Quite often. Waking up in the morning is tough especially when you do not have a reason. BUT… My friend “We are born for […]

Why do you want to wake up the next morning?

Why would I wake up?

Who cares?

I know my absence won’t make a big difference

We tend to get these thoughts. Quite often.

Waking up in the morning is tough especially when you do not have a reason.

BUT…

[notokentrepreneur]

It’s 3:13 AM and women out there are sitting around the corner to get “Mehndi” done. I believe “It is a – Mehndi night“ Girls who trained themselves as a mehndi artist are applying henna as fast as they can to attend more customers Believe me, there is a long queue! These “Little girls” doing […]

They are tired. They are sleepy.

It’s been a long tiring day.

Shoutout to the girls! I hope you guys will be known for your art & efforts.

Don’t worry! You are doing better than “Judgemental” idiots.

YOU ALREADY MADE YOUR PARENTS FEEL PROUD

[notokentrepreneur]

FIND YOUR “Rich Dad”… What? What does that even mean? It means finding your Rich Dad. Rich dad can be your father, uncle, aunt, or anybody who can guide you. Who can teach you how to sail alone. Nobody is born intelligent. If you find your rich dad during the course, your journey will be […]

How to find a ‘rich dad?

Look around, keep your eyes open. Recall, who is the smartest or most successful guy you have ever met. Bring him on board no matter what.

Tell him/her –

I want to become a different version of you.

Share your hurdles

Things stopping you

How did they do it?

Talk about “Mental Strength”

[notokentrepreneur]

When you see failed attempts, distress around you. These things cause insecurity, experiencing this made me insecure. Hiding & running away from responsibilities…that was me. I used to think why do people take risks? What brings that courage to create and invent? How to find the purpose of life? I was finding the same answers, […]

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My stress started mounting as days passed by. We were living in the same rented one room, life was as it is. The only thing I could see myself

[notokentrepreneur]

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[notokentrepreneur]

As soon as I got passed my intermediate (12th), I was desperately looking for a job that too US shift so that I could do my college and job