I still remember the initial sight of Ansh clearly. It was in McLeod Ganj, where I was doing what I tend to do when on the road, and was taking mental notes of people, taking in the energy, and contemplating my next career step.

The streets were bustling without commotion. Prayer flags were swirling over the small lanes. Momo's smell was still in the air. The great Dhauladhar Range stood calm and meditative and almost silent in the distance.

I was at work even in that calmness.

Being a digital PR strategist at PRWeb, I always consider the campaigns, stories, positioning, and visibility. To me, branding is not simply a strategy; it is a narrative structure with form. My notebook was open, and I was writing down what I intend to launch to the clients in the future and how the brands could publish more press releases online in order to reach the right people.

And that is when Ansh entered the scene.

We met at a small hillside café. I stopped to have a cup of coffee after walking down busy lanes. He had already arrived and was talking to somebody about a travel itinerary.

Ansh is the owner of India Highlight, a travelling company located at Dharamshala. However, he does not only sell tour packages. He crafts experiences. He does not want to demonstrate India to the tourists but to experience it.

Something grounded there was in him. Calm but confident. Focused yet approachable.

The initial encounter between us was basic.

A greeting.
A remark about the view.
A shared appreciation for the mountains.

It could have ended there.

But it didn’t.

What started as a form of small talk gradually turned into a serious conversation. We began discussing work.

I described the process of building PR and how a single well-planned campaign can change the perception of the brand overnight. The way that strategic storytelling and digital outreach enable businesses to post press releases online and control what people discuss.

He was talking of tourism—how all itineraries are story lines. The coming, the drowning, the recollection.

He said that marketing creates anticipation.
"Travel provides experience," I answered.

We laughed at the diversity and connectedness at the same time in our industries.

Both of us were self-driven. Goal-oriented. Concentrated on creating something significant out of nothing. There was no awkwardness. Only two professionals interested in each other as to what is going on in their heads.

I laughed more than I had anticipated.

We saw each other a few days afterward, either by chance or design.

The buzz of the market subsided, and we went down the quieter streets. We sat in restaurants where we drank hot cups of chai. We spoke about:

Campaign stress and problematic clients.

Predictable weather and risks in tourism.

Development, aspiration, and vision.

The emotional burden of entrepreneurship.

He informed me of last-minute emergencies in travelling and how he managed the disappointed tourists patiently. I recounted how I had been on tight deadlines on campaigns and how I had been under pressure to come up with perfect messaging.

Something natural was made between professional conversations and mutual silence.

It wasn’t dramatic.

It was steady. Warm. Real.

What struck me most was the mutual respect.

There was no insecurity. No competition.

He admired my discipline, structured thinking, and ability to combine creativity with strategy. I admired his articulation, empathy, and how deeply he cared about the travellers he served.

We didn’t try to outshine each other.

We elevated each other.

I began noticing small details—the way he listened without interrupting. How thoughtfully he spoke about his team. How seriously he took responsibility.

He noticed my planning habits. My notebook is always open. My ability to analyze situations before reacting.

Our admiration slowly transformed into something more meaningful.

Looking back, it feels less like coincidence and more like alignment.

Two ambitious individuals from different industries.
One focused on perception.
One focused on experience.

Both are building worlds around their careers.

And somehow, in the hills of McLeod Ganj, our paths crossed.

We didn’t start with grand gestures or dramatic confessions.

We started with dialogue.

With shared values.

With professional curiosity.

And from that foundation, something stronger grew.

Nowadays, I do not only recall the mountains or the cafes when I remember McLeod Ganj.

I recall that initial conversation.
The comfort.
The laughter.
The soundless acknowledgement that something significant had started.

We were capoeiras who were sitting opposite to one another in a quiet cafe, without the idea that our lives were to be mixed up.

And now we do not only share affection.

It’s a partnership.

It’s there in difficult times of the year and election anxiety.
It is marking fresh business achievements.
It is supporting one another in their dreams and constructing common ones.

This experience on our trip taught me something strong.

Success is not merely about spiking brands or creating travelling experiences.

It’s about alignment.

Two different journeys may be parallel throughout years. And then a single hour, an hour of coffee, a chat, and an aspiration can unite them and form something greater.

There are occasions when life does not transform via great happenings.

It changes through:

In the quiet corners of the mountains, two professionals met.

One shaping stories for brands.
One shaping stories for travellers.

And somewhere between strategy and scenery, two journeys became one.

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