In a world rushing forward, chasing numbers and names, one man paused—and listened to his heart.   Prateek had everything a young Indian could hope for. A sharp mind, a seat at IIM—one of the best business schools in the country—and a prestigious job at HSBC in Mumbai. A big salary. A bigger title. The kind of life people clap for.   But deep inside, something didnt feel right.   Is this it? he would quietly ask himself.   Even as a child growing up in Calcutta, Prateek was different. When people came home, he didnt just offer water. He noticed if they liked their tea strong. He made sure they felt seen. Comforting people came naturally to him. It made him happy in a way nothing else did. It was his gift. His love language.   He was good at studies, too. Really good. So society gave him two shining doors: CA or MBA. He picked MBA and entered IIM, ready to conquer the world.   But once inside, something in him began to ache.   All around me, people were talking about packages and placements, he says. But no one spoke about purpose. No one spoke about building something with heart. I kept wondering—why, in one of the best business schools in India, is no one talking about entrepreneurship?   But he did what most of us do. He followed the path laid out for him. He joined the job. Took the salary. Wore the suit. Smiled at meetings.   Outside, everything looked perfect.   Inside, he was slowly fading.   Then, at 29, something unexpected happened.   He went to Kashmir.   It wasnt just a trip. It was a moment that cracked something open.   In the silence of those mountains, I heard my own voice again. I felt alive.   He came back changed. He didnt want to survive anymore—he wanted to live.   So he left everything and returned to Calcutta, not with a plan, but with a feeling. A longing to create something that made people feel what he felt as a boy: safe, loved, at home.   That longing became Snacking, a café with a big heart. A place where coffee came with care. Where strangers walked in and left smiling.   It wasnt easy. Some days, there were no customers. Some nights, no sleep. There were bills, breakdowns, and questions. So many questions.   But he stayed.   He served.   He smiled.   Because for the first time, he wasnt chasing someone elses dream. He was living his own.   Then came PiCo, his second café. A slice of Italy in the heart of Calcutta. With hand-tossed pizzas, warm lighting, and the smell of fresh espresso in the air. It just turned one—and it already feels like home to so many.   But its not just about coffee or pizza. Its about feeling seen. Its about the quiet magic that happens when someone really cares.   Thats what makes Prateek different.   He didnt just quit his job. He came back to himself.   In a world that rewards running, he chose stillness. In a culture that celebrates climbing ladders, he built a space where people could sit, breathe, and just be.   So heres to the boy who always noticed. The man who dared to dream. The human who reminds us that:   Real success isnt about titles or trophies. Sometimes, it smells like fresh coffee and feels like youve finally come home.

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