20 Years in India: Embracing the Unexpected

When I boarded my flight in Los Angeles and landed into Bombay on October 1, 2005, it was for a six-month stint, I never imagined I’d still be here 20 years later. But life had other plans, they say life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans. In fact, three things I swore I’d never do have all come true in India.

Three Things I Never Thought I’d Do

• Live in India long-term: I never imagined settling here. What started as a six-month gig has snowballed into 20 years. The official story is that my wife has taken my passport and I’m being held hostage here.
• Marry someone from India: Falling in love wasn’t on my agenda, yet I met my wife here. I assumed I’d marry someone from the US, but love doesn’t follow plans.
• Drive a Korean car: I used to laugh at Korean cars and stayed loyal to Japanese/German brands. Today, I drive a Korean car in Bombay – never say never. Turns out modern Hyundais and Kias are pretty damn good.

These “never say never” moments taught me that life’s surprises often lead to the best outcomes.

The Longest Six-Month Stint of My Life

So here I am, two decades later still in Bombay and yes, still behind the wheel of that Korean car I once swore I’d never drive. What began as a six-month detour has somehow stretched into the ride of a lifetime, complete with more speed bumps, detours, sharp turns, and surprise pit stops than I could have ever plotted on a map. Somewhere between the endless traffic jams, the pothole roads, and the countless cups of overly sweet chai, India stopped being a temporary posting and became home.

The journey hasn’t always been smooth, but that’s the beauty of it. India has a way of humbling your best-laid plans and replacing them with something far more interesting. I’ve learned that patience isn’t just a nice virtue here it’s often the only survival skill worth carrying. Waiting in line, waiting out the monsoons, waiting for plans to finally come together it’s all part of the rhythm of life. And along the way I’ve discovered that “never say never” isn’t just a casual phrase; it’s a spoiler alert. Every time I’ve said, “I’ll never do that,” India has found a way to prove me wrong and usually for the better.

“Things Take Time” – My Dad Was Right

When I told my parents I was moving to India for 6 months for work, my dad gave me some simple advice: things take time. I was expecting more words of wisdom but that was his only piece of advice. However, after 20 years, I realize how wise he was. Patience isn’t just a virtue here; it’s essential for survival.

Twenty years on, moving to India has proven to be one of the best decisions of my life. From early uncertainty to feeling at home, it’s been an incredible adventure. I’m entering the next chapter with a “never say never” mindset – excited for whatever comes next.

For a bit of nostalgia, I’m comparing approximate values from 20 years ago and now:

	Oct 1, 2005	Oct 1, 2025
Sensex	7,900	82,000
NIFTY	2,600	25,000
DJIA	10,600	46,000
NASDAQ	2,099	22,000
INR/USD	Rs. 44	Rs. 88

My Personal Carma

The definition of karma is the cosmic principle of cause and effect, where the intentions and actions of an individual influence their future. But for me, “carma” has always been the stronger force. I’ve been a car guy my whole life, shaped by the car-crazy culture of Los Angeles, where weekend conversations revolved around horsepower, body kits, and the next big drive up the Pacific Coast Highway. So imagine the irony: I move halfway across the world to Bombay, and fate places me in a residential building where two of my neighbors share my obsession to an almost comic degree.

Not just any neighbors, either. One happens to be one of the largest car collectors in the country, whose garage looks more like an automotive museum than a parking space. The other? The editor of India’s #1 car magazine, someone who has probably test-driven every car I’ve ever drooled over. And by some cosmic joke, they both live not just in the same building, but on the same floor. Out of six flats, three of them are occupied by car-obsessed individuals. What are the odds?

Looking back, I could have moved to dozens of cities in India, but I ended up in the one apartment building where cars were practically part of the residents’ DNA. It was as if destiny was winking at me, reminding me that even 8,000 miles away from LA, I’d never be far from torque talk, exhaust notes, and Sunday morning drives.

Some people call this coincidence. I call it carma.