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We had calculated the time, based on the distance. A good "situation analysis" exercise would have made us to look at other "project risks" like road condition. We did not imagine that national highways would be in the state of disrepair that made us often crawl for miles at less than 40 kilometers an hour. The ride turned out to be long and arduous. But the team stuck together. Oblivious of the strain, we were actually beyond ourselves with joy. It was the longest career high we ever enjoyed.

Partha & Subroto Share a Cup of Tea at a Road-side Hut

We watched the most beautiful sunset as we left behind the rocks of Kolar. Next morning, we saw the most spectacular sunrise driving out of Tirupati. We stopped at wayside shanty hotels and ate like gluttons; we took turns to drive the two cars past lush green fields. We bargained like hell with guava sellers on the numerous bridges spanning across the Krishna River and we borrowed a hosepipe from a villager and gave our cars a bath.

The Day Begins at Park Hotel With a Car Wash

It will remain a beautiful and pure experience for us for the rest of our lives. When we reached the Park after 1 AM on the 25^th, we were too tired to do anything. Anjan had arrived and checked in. In keeping with austerity fit for a start up, we shared rooms and in preparation for the week and the years ahead, slept off like a bunch of boy scouts in their first camp away from home.

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Subroto Bagchi is co-founder and Chief Operating Officer for MindTree Consulting (P) Ltd. The "Making of the MindTree" is told in the first person by Subroto Bagchi. In condensed form, it was published by Business World, filmed by InfiniTV, and aired on CNBC, IT Hour. Websites: www.mindtree.com & www.mindtree.com/subrotobagchi