There is comfort in sitting next to someone in silence. You’re both left to your own devices and despite that, there’s an ease that doesn’t make these silences uncomfortable. It was how I felt 20 minutes into a long ride from Chennai airport to my meeting.
It was early 2020, and Aravind had graciously picked me up from the airport. It was the first time we saw each other in person. You see, SaaSBoomi had been working with Aravind for a while. Until then, my conversations with Aravind were transactional and almost exclusively via email. But this meeting was different.
Once we had exchanged pleasantries, I wondered what Aravind wanted to talk to me about. But his first question to me was about my motivations for starting SaaSBoomi. For the next 20 minutes, we discussed our goals and ambitions, and the conversation meandered to a stop.
But the silence was comfortable. We sat quietly, watching the world zoom by around us, and in that silence, we both established a bond. It was silent, unsaid, and meaningful. Such was the connection that whenever I was in Chennai, Aravind would send me a car to ferry me around. I usually refuse such acts of generosity, life has been kind enough for me to be able to afford simple pleasures like hiring a cab. But sometimes we’re so entwined in imaginary rules that we set for ourselves that we miss the affection that someone shows us.
Often we believe that affection is shown through acts of tenderness expressed physically or emotionally. And just like we think in different languages, we express affection in different languages as well. In this case, sending a car to pick me up and take me around the city is Aravind’s way of showing love.
The reason I make this exception for Aravind is because he is unique. Aravind speaks very carefully and chooses his words wisely. I’ve not seen Aravind waste time or breath on anything that isn’t important. My colleague, Varun, once described Aravind as a ledger. There are numbers and if there’s a need for explanation, there’s a short sentence at the bottom to give you all the additional information you need. This description tickles me primarily because it describes Aravind the professional to a T.
He has deep knowledge of his subject—finance—and employs all his focus on it. For SaaSBoomi, he plays the role of a CFO but as a volunteer. He is prompt, always accurate, and polite. He plays an important role in helping SaaSBoomi function.
But the reason I get along well with Aravind is that he shares one core business value with me: always pay your vendors on time. It’s a good business practice, but I am aware people don’t pay on time. For me (and for Aravind), the reason you pay your vendors on time is so that when you need it, they will be flexible for you. And that time will come. No one gets through life without hurting.
But this series isn’t just about who our volunteers are professionally, it is also about them the person.
Aravind is unassuming and very generous in spirit. Not too long ago, we had hosted an event in Chennai. As we do, we call on all our volunteers to come and help us run it. Aravind got the call too. He worked hard, never delegated, and always had a serene expression. During one of the talks, he stood far away from the crowds in the back so that our guests could find themselves a place to sit. He didn’t need to do it but he had offered his seat to someone else and was happy to stand.
But one of the biggest reasons Aravind and I get along is our shared love for cricket. Very often, the conversation switches to the sport, and in his soft-spoken way, he will analyze a game or play in a way that even a pundit would struggle to illustrate.
If there was one regret I had regarding Aravind, I would wish I could spend more time with him. My visits to Chennai, unfortunately, are always hurried and we never get to spend time together. Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time.
Thank you for all you do, Aravind. I owe you a good filter coffee and a conversation where we have no care for time.
From the Author:
SaaSBoomi began in 2015 as a small gathering of ~50 founders, and today, with over 500 events across three countries and countless lives touched, we’ve only just scratched the surface.
None of this would have been possible without the unrelenting passion of our 125+ volunteers — the lifeblood of SaaSBoomi.
Their contributions go beyond effort; they’ve built a community bound by camaraderie, empathy, and a shared vision for a Product Nation.
Pay it FWD is my tribute to every pay-it-forward champion I’ve encountered on this incredible journey.
Their contributions to SaaSBoomi and the broader ecosystem have been immeasurable, yet there remains a story left to be told — one that echoes with the impact they continue to create.
