When A (Sindhi) Guy Meets a Girl on A Train: Business Happens
The sweet story of two strangers travelling in a train tweeted by @Raj_S in 40 Tweets.
1/ Marwari boy is trying to impress the girl sitting next to him. 15 mins later, he's pimping his business ?
#Dhandho
#ShatabdiExpress
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
2/ The girl works in a startup. Of course.
Boy makes an offer the girl can't refuse – fantastic price for supplying branded t-shirts.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
3/ Boy has already called his factory to check the production schedule, and is promising to deliver in 24 hours.
#Hustle
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
4/ Girl has made 5 calls to her 2 co-founders so far. Yet to decide. Nimble startups, my ass!
Boy is showing fabric samples now. Whatay!
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
5/ Boy pulls out family pics, and starts narrating his grandfather's entrepreneurial journey; co-founders yet to call back.
Fascinating!
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
6/ And the girl gets real estate advice for free. Looks like he may sell her a flat too ?
2 more calls, and still no decision.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
7/ Talk turns to funding!
Girl's startup got seeded with 'just' 2 Cr – they're making every Paisa count.
Boy's father gave him 50K in 2008 ?
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
8/ …and they say that family businesses will die.
That's all, folks!
[P.S. No decision yet]
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
9/ Breakfast done. Now they're talking education.
Boy failed 5th grade; Girl is an engineer from REC.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
10/ Whoa! The girl's startup is building a platform to help sellers list products across sites. And he's the first such seller they've met ?
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
11/ How do you build a tech product without even meeting potential customers?!
And they've raised 2 Crores in funding!
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
12/ Have to pee, but I don't want to miss a thing! ?
Boy has loads of commonsense; thankfully, Girl is Evernote-ing everything.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
13/ Boy is just 24, with 10 years of experience! Branched off on his own at 16 with the 50K in funding from his dad.
#KissHimAlready
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
14/ Ah, the conversation suddenly turns to love and marriage.
Girl, nonchalantly, drops the words 'Tamil Brahmin'
#headdesk
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
15/ Thankfully, that was a brief digression. Girl is now talking about the importance of higher education; ironically, she's being schooled.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
16/ This Boy is a rockstar; asks the Girl to check with her co-founders.
Random abuses are hurled at Airtel ?
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
17/ Girl's co-founders have to check with their CA before placing such orders.
What?!
Boy smiles.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
18/ Girl passes a snide remark about how people are slaves to their gadgets.
*points at me*
Just because I have my headphones on. Sigh.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
19/ Yay! Girl has to pee. BRB.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
20/ This delay was sponsored by Airtel's fabulous network.
Meanwhile, Boy has extended his ticket to Chennai; his destination was Katpadi.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
21/ Boy is telling the Girl about this restaurant in Bangalore that charges customers for the time spent; the food is free.
Hmmmm…
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
22/ The co-founders must be building mathematical models to evaluate the offer – should send them DCF templates.
Still no word.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
23/ Girl is now talking about potential Series A investors; full-on name dropping happening. Boy has a mild amused-met-confused smile on.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
24/ And the laptop comes out. Yes, it's a Mac.
Google Sheets is not opening.
Airtel gets some more bad karma ?
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
25/ No, you silly girl. Google Slides won't open either.
Sidebar: Dear Airtel, feed a million kids in Africa to atone.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
26/ Girl: Numbers are only for the investors. You should feel the business in your blood.
#TWSS to a Marwari boy!
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
27/ 45 minutes to go. Close the deal, dude!
*random banter about lakes*
Co-founders are still deciding, it seems. Very agile of them.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
28/ Aiyyo! Girl's mother is Herbalife and Amway agent; she learnt a lot watching her uneducated mother work hard to grow her business ?
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
29/ Hallelujah! Co-founders have found a cheaper site.
Boy throws in additional 2% cash discount, and delivery tonight.
Whatay!
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
30/ Girl has walked out to talk on the phone. Boy is pleading with his dad – don't think they have the free capacity to deliver today ?
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
31/ Looks like we have a deal! But the Girl wants more discount.
Boy swears on their friendship (??) that he's given her the best price.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
32/ Can smell Chennai. Sigh.
She's on phone again.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
33/ AND WE HAVE A DEAL!
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
34/ Whoa! Boy takes out a receipt book.
Can I kiss him now?
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
35/ Boy takes Re. 1/- as token advance. And gets her number. FINALLY!
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
36/ Did you know: Sowcarpet didn't get flooded during #ChennaiRains
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
37/ Boy wants her to inspect his factory. Smooth!
Girl's dad is waiting at the station to pick her up.
Boy offers to take them both.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
38/ And we're reaching Chennai Central.
No, I'm not going to follow them.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
39/ Also, I'm not going to tell them about this.
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
40/ And my parents taught me that eavesdropping was a bad thing to do.
[END]
— Raj S (@Raj_S) January 20, 2016
