#723
Yesterday, January 22nd, I had the joy of reconnecting with a dear colleague and mentor, Nainesh Shah—affectionately known as ND—after nearly two decades. ND, who has called the USA home since 1996, was in the Bay Area on a business trip and graciously carved out four precious hours to drive from San Jose to Foster City to meet me and my family.
Our friendship traces back to 1990-91 at Unique Pharmaceuticals in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, and later to 2000-2002 at Pharmacia-Upjohn Monsanto (He moved to Pfizer when Monsanto Spun Pharmacia and I in to Monsanto Ag business). It was ND who, in 1991, steered my career when I faced a pivotal choice between offers from Reliance Petroleum and Sandoz. His wise counsel—prioritize career growth over immediate money / wealth creation—led me to Sandoz, shaping the path I've walked ever since. We last met in March 2007 in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, during my Honeywell Global conference while he was based in San Diego.
Time flew as we reminisced about old colleagues, life in America, and the journeys that brought us here. At home and later at the newly opened "Bengalur Ootery" on Edgewater Boulevard—a charming spot just two months old, run by Ms. Pallavi—we savored authentic Kannada cuisine. The flavors transported us back to our roots, and ND agreed it was truly tasty and comforting.
Despite Chicago's brutal -45°F (today 1/23) weather tempting him to reroute his flight home from San Jose Airport, ND chose connection over convenience. My wife Radha, Lalitha, and Eshwar joined in, with ND sharing valuable insights on raising a newborn drawn from his American experience.
ND with Radha, Eshwar.
Moments like these remind us how enduring friendships transcend time and distance. Thank you, ND, for the laughter, wisdom, and warmth. Here's to many more reunions.Karthik
Foster City, CA 0640am PST.
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