As a professional, I worked for 36 years — 30 of those as an entrepreneur, from a modest beginning in 1992 to a grand finale in 2022.

Interestingly, my entrepreneurial journey had begun much earlier — when I was just four!

Our home in Delhi was a bungalow with a beautiful garden in front, a portico lined with fruit trees, and a big kitchen garden at the back.

The kitchen garden fascinated me most. Before I even began school, I would spend hours exploring it.

One morning, after a good rain, I was searching for earthworms when I discovered a new plant. It was beautiful, and when I touched it, its leaves folded instantly — then opened again a few minutes later. This was the Touch-me-not plant. To me, it was pure magic, and I was certain none of my friends had ever seen anything like it.

So, I came up with a plan: I decided to charge money to let my friends touch it.

Many paid, making me feel rather rich. But one of my closest friends — my next-door neighbour, who had been with me since we were toddlers — did not have any pocket money. Because of our special bond, she expected I would let her touch it for free.

But greed got the better of me, and I refused. She did the next best thing — she told my mother. Soon, I was ordered to return all the money. My mother reminded me firmly: when you have something good, you must share it — because sharing multiplies the joy.