My earliest memory associated with the Aditya Birla Group is that of Paranthas wrapped in Freshwrapp by my mother for my lunch break in school. That used to be the most enjoyable time during schooldays because my friends and I used to share our tiffins and talk our hearts out during that time. It used to be like a mini gossip session for us. As we grew up, another brand of the Aditya Birla Group drew our attention- Forever 21. Full of affordable yet trendy clothes, this brand was all the rage in my early teenage years. My friends and I used to look forward to shopping here. It was our go-to brand for everything fashion. Being in a boarding school, we rarely got the opportunity to dress up but whenever we did, we made full use of it. Then as I graduated, so did my choices, moving from Forever 21 to brands like Ted Baker with its iconic PVC bags and Pantaloons with its outstanding collection of Ethnic Wear. The Aditya Birla Group has also been instrumental in my journey since I joined IIFT, with Allen Solly Women and Van Heusen Women being the source of all my formal wear. I remember walking in for my interview, I was so nervous but it turned out to be the start of something truly incredible. So over time, this phenomenal company has been part of some of the most beautiful and memorable moments of my life and I’m confident that it will continue to play this important role for many years to come.
It would be wrong of me to say that I haven’t lived a relatively sheltered life. I was brought up in very loving home and have always had someone who was willing to listen to me and guide me through life but my life has also had its own fair share of challenges beginning with when I went to a boarding school at the age of 8. But even that was nothing compared to the challenge of losing a loved one. When I was in the 9th standard, I lost my grandfather. He was my world. Losing him left a gaping hole in my life. At that time I was devastated. I didn’t think that I would ever be able to move past losing him. I used to cry myself to sleep every night and hope that I would get to see him in my dreams at least for one last time. I used to go to his room and sit on his bed and reminiscence about the times that I spent with him when he would impart knowledge about wildlife- his favourite topic of conversation and offer us Hajmola and other yummy treats. But as time passed the pain got a little lesser and I learnt to move forward in life. I learnt to be strong and realized that if this couldn’t break me, probably nothing ever would. And most importantly I realized that moving past losing someone does not mean that you forget them, rather it means that you accept that they will live on in your memories. It’s been 7 years now and I still miss him and think about him every single day but now it’s not out of sorrow or grief rather it is out of happiness that at least I was lucky enough to have had him in my life.