One from your "reportee"!
One from your "serious" competitor!
Arpit, it seems like yesterday when we had lunch in that tea restaurant on double road before you joined Stellaris. Not sure where 5 years flew by, though it feels like we have known each other much longer.
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It will be hard to imagine Stellaris without you. I will miss your truth-seeking questions, the intensity with which your approach work, your genuine desire to help others and above all, how you always treated Stellaris as your own firm. BTW, you were fun also; especially with your energy filled dance, playing pool throw ball and with your passion for food.
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I am sure you know the only regret I have, that we could not get you to drink even an ounce of alcohol. I hope you don’t disappoint us on the farewell dinner. It’s been a pleasure working with you and learning so much from you.
One from your lengthy friend!
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At times Arpit doesn’t get sarcasm, and starts responding to a not-to-serious question asked as comprehensively and seriously as possible, and one learns that sarcasm is not to be thrown at Arpit as there are chances you might suffer through his extremely serious response.
Arpit also is very comfortable burping in public, an act not popular otherwise.
Arpit has super normal digestion capabilities where instead of having a very healthy diet, but never has fat accumulated in his body, a matter of jealousy for many including myself.
“Mushkil hi nahi namumkin hain” is ladke ko daru pilana. No tactic has worked with him for all of us, a major non-performance for us as a group.
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Wish you the very best. Have no doubt that you’ll do fantabulously well in whatever you choose. We’ll always be cheer-leading for you.
One whose goli you never had!
Hi Arpit,
It’s sad to see you go, but I am sure you will find success wherever you go.
You are a fine gentleman and I appreciate your judgement, thoughtfulness and general helpful nature. I will miss reading your detailed IM’s and interview notes, but overall will miss your presence and influence in the organization.
Wishing you all the very best in your future endeavours.
One from the unlucky lot!
Dear Arpit,
In the short period of time that i have known you, it has been nothing but a delight. From your insights on happy relationships to chatter over the lunch table, talking to you has always been wonderful.
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I have no doubt that you will excel at your future endeavors just like you have here.
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And as my mother would say, we don't say Goodbye, we say 'I'll see you soon'. Here's hoping that we see you soon enough. :)
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Akshita
Hi Arpit,
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With the limited interactions we have had during the "Limechat" discussions, lunch break conversation, I think I will always remember the fresh perspective you brought to the table.
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I can relate how hard it can be leaving an organisation where you have spent more than half a decade, and this decision wouldn't have been easy for you, I am sure whichever path you choose follow, it will be the right choice. And, I hope, in that journey, we cross paths again.
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Pradeep
Hi Arpit,
I’m so upset that I got to work with you for only such a brief time. When you first interviewed me for this position, I was so excited about the possibility of working with you. Finding out one month after this that you were quitting was really disappointing.
From what I know, you’re the most excited anyone is in the team about writing, and it scares me that our best writer is leaving :P But besides that, I feel like you’ve always had an intimidating elder-brotherly vibe about you – you know, hard to impress with very tough standards, and yet, super sweet and helpful. Thank you so much for all the time you spent tutoring me on all things Norway, Iceland and Europe in general.
I’m sure I’m missing out on a lot by not getting to work with you for longer. But I hope there will come a chance someday to make up for this lost time. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the crossword clues and don’t hate me too much by the end of it :P
Ranjani
Hi Arpit,
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While I haven’t had long interactions with you, you have a way of lighting up every room with your aura. Yours was my first interview and convinced me that Stellaris was definitely the right fit for me. Any time I have a conversation with you, I’m sure that I’ll learn something new.
Hope you relax enough for all of us on your career break, Arpit! You’ll be missed in this office!
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Shreyan
One from the boss lady!
Hey Arpit, It’s been a privilege to work alongside you. I will always remember how you'll check on me when I'd take a sick day off. Your kindness has left a lasting impact on us. I always looked forward to your excitement when you'd see food delivered for quarterly meetings or office lunches. Who will we order pickle for now? You're the one who made the famous chips viral and everyone's favourite! I'd miss listening to your travel stories - how you'd not miss a single detail while narrating! We haven't spoken much despite working together for 6 years, but it's lovely to share a bond which feels homely and effortless. I'm getting emotional as I write this. You're going to be impossible to forget. Your presence will be dearly missed. Wishing you all the success and fulfilment in your future endeavours!!
One from your luxe buddy!
I’ve already managed to say a little bit of how this change made me feel but I am going to do do-over with a slightly less overwhelmed mind.
You are an irreplaceable part of my journey here at Stellaris. Without fear of contradiction, I think I can say that on behalf of almost anyone who has been a part of Stellaris. You bring an infectious energy (and also similar amount of intensity) to any conversation. One of the qualities I admire and appreciate most about you is your ability to express empathy. The concern you have for everybody around you is unmatched. Never have you missed a message when I was unwell, never have you missed checking up the next day. Irrespective of the nature or scale of a problem brought to you – personal or professional, you address it with the same compassion and follow through. You are unafraid to be unabashedly you - you don’t mind sharing an unpopular opinion and you don’t mind expressing your support to my completely unjustified spending habits. Irrespective of the lack of spirits you consume, the spirit to participate remains unrivalled. I remember fondly, you being a part of really late night (bordering in on early morning), chit chat session in Thailand where no one other than you was of sane mind and wondered how you even managed to not just hear the gibberish but actually respond and treat us like sane animals. I know I should say more about your professional achievements and my learnings but I wont because you were more than a colleague to me and so I chose to tell you what you meant to me personally beyond what you were required to as a colleague (I am assuming everyone else has said enough on your professional prowess and I don’t have sufficient locus to comment but in case there isn’t enough, happy to share professional feedback also :P).
You will be missed constantly and thought of always. You have helped make this home for me and I cannot thank you enough for that. Until next time, wishing you all the love, luck, laughter in the world.
One from your Saas(y) friend!
One we managed to get!
One from your "big network" friend!
Hello Arpit
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I WILL DEFINITELY MISS YOU AT OFFICE. I may not have tears in my eyes – but feeling is the same 😉
When you came on the first day to office you were all shy and had a very different personality but when you finally opened up, we came to know how humble and talented you are.
Enjoyed all the post lunch - walk discussions we have had over the years (especially when we were at the old office).
We never hesitated or held back in sharing our views and opinions with each other. Agreed to disagree on many issues - gracefully.
The common thing which interests both of us is GOOD VEG FOOD 😊 and TRAVEL.
Let’s do our South Bangalore – breakfast walk soon.
Hope you get to do all things you want to do in your life.
Wishing you all the best.
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CHALO ABHI ALVIDA KEHTEIN HAI – DOSTI AUR YAADEIN SADA RAHEINGI
One from your fan!
Hi Arpit,
The day has finally come.
I am sure you must be feeling a lot of emotions and so does the rest of the team.
Its hard for me to see this day as well. I couldn't get myself to make a video or audio.
Even though we have spent a year working with each other, it seems like we have known each other for decades.
Something sunk in me on the day you announced that you will be leaving. I was working from home that day and remember reflecting back to our time together.
Our first interaction was when I was interviewing with Stellaris. I still remember thinking that he such an impressive guy with so many achievements under his belt, felt intimidating. First impressions - I thought he must be a strict/tough manager to work with but when we first interacted, you turned out to be completely opposite. You were sweetest, kindest person with a happy face in the room. Very easy to talk to. Felt respected and heard.
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Over time I have realised that I will be missing two things about you:
- You are a delightful sparring partner. Given how smart and experienced you are, it is always a pleasure to share ideas, pick your brain on investing, founders and sectors. I will miss our coffee chats and quick 5 min discussions turning into 2 hour brainstorming sessions. Whether it was outside of work on our way to Ultra cement's plant or during diligences at work, these discussions have been a delight and have sharpen my thinking.
- You are an amazing mentor. I remember in the early days of Stellaris when I was struggling with the transition into being a VC, you were a strong pillar supporting me. Our conversation after a vadapav at Gavran misal was game changing for me. I am sure it must have been difficult for you to work with me initially but I appreciate your patience. I am also grateful for all the chances you gave me to prove my work, to shine and showcase my work and believing in me.
I wish you the best in life. I hope you stay happy and jolly as you are.
I wish to be part of your life as a friend, mentee and fellow foodie/traveller.
I am always happy to help you and just a message/call away.
Have a wonderful time ahead! And, yes you will be missed :)
One from your dancing partner!
One from your Diet Coke partner!
Arpit,
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I could never have imagined writing a farewell message for you. I had always believed that you’d outlast us all. They call it “bleeding blue” when one is a loyal supporter of a cricket team, I can’t think of anyone else who bleeds bluer than you when it comes to Stellaris.
You’re the colleague who became a friend. My starkest memory of you is fearing edtech debriefs. I remember meeting a company during my first few days at Stellaris and you having the exact opposite views as mine. That day made me question my judgement like no other. But it also showed me your passion for the profession; you’d challenge yourself to see positives even when others saw obvious faults. From that day to this, from education to no overlap to EVs, I’m only extremely grateful that I got a chance to work with you again. From being a seemingly difficult colleague to being someone I can confide in – you’ve travelled a long road with me.
Rarely have I met someone who’s so genuinely caring about even the smallest of things and displays equal passion while debating ice cream flavours & discussing life decisions. I think that’s the thing I’d miss the most about you. You make people around you feel comfortable and valued. Your energy and full-of-life demeanour are infectious!
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I'll miss having you as my neighbour, sharing new book discoveries, cool food places, trek and adventure stories, and taking personal life and career lessons from you!
So glad we’ve shared more than diet cokes, we’ve shared a bond that I hope lasts for life. Please stay in touch, and always know you have a permanent cheerleader in me!