The place was quite crowded so I took a seat in the corner and started reading my book. But the words on the page, they wouldn't stay still. My mind was full of worries and regrets. I sighed quietly, and just stared out the window at the rain. I think my face was giving away a lot, for the lady who sat next to me went "All good?" I looked up and saw the woman sitting at the next table. She had kind eyes and a warm, friendly face. I hesitated, automatically putting on my usual polite mask. "Oh, you know, just work," I said, but the words felt weak and not enough.

She smiled gently. "Same yaar, just want to quit everything and leave, right ?" And just like that, everything changed. I found myself telling her all my frustrations, fears, and feelings of being alone. She listened without judging me, her gaze steady and understanding. She didn't give me simple advice or try to fix my problems. She simply listened, really listened, and her presence made me feel safe enough to open up. I talked for a long time, and my coffee got cold. As I spoke, I felt a weight lifting. It wasn't that she had solved my problems, but the simple act of being heard and seen had a big effect on me. I felt a sense of relief, a lightness I hadn't felt in months. When I finally stopped talking, I realized something important had happened.

I had connected with a complete stranger in a way I had never connected with anyone in my life. It was a pure connection, free from past issues and expectations. I felt truly seen and heard. We exchanged names – and as we said goodbye, I knew I had experienced something life-changing. I felt not only lighter but also deeply connected, like I'd found a lifeline in the middle of a storm. That night, the idea for Beyond Namaste was born. I realized that what I had experienced in that coffee shop was a basic human need: the need for real connection, for deep listening, for a space where we can be ourselves without fear. I wanted to create a place, a community, where people could go beyond small talk and connect with each other on a deeper level. A place where they could find the same release and connection that I had experienced.

Namaste, while beautiful, often gets reduced to a polite greeting. I wanted to go beyond that, to the deeper meaning of truly seeing and respecting the divine in each other. And that's what Beyond Namaste is all about: creating a space for real connection, healing, and growth, one conversation at a time.

Arvind Kumar
Founder, BeyondNamaste
IIM Ahmedabad Alumni