Gambling Since Age 9 — A 45-Year Journey

I started gambling at the ripe old age of nine.

It began with three-card poker with childhood friends. A few coins on the line. The thrill of winning — or losing — didn't matter much. What mattered was the rush. That strange, heady cocktail of hope and fear. Adrenaline in the veins.

And that feeling stayed with me — through my teenage years, into my 30s, and all the way to my early 50s.

For decades, I gambled — on cricket, horses, weather, football, the markets, friendships, and decisions.

Then, about 45 years later, I finally made my last money gamble.

Ironically, that was also the day the biggest gamble of my life began.

From Millionaire to Borrowing ₹5,000

Money wasn't a concern. I lent to friends, invested in builders' high-yield debt, dabbled in startups. I had assets. Security. A prestigious address. I was almost a dollar millionaire.

And then — through relentless trading, reckless lending, and questionable investments — I lost 90% of what I had built over three decades.

Let's call it what it was.

Gambling.

I was a gambler. Calling myself a trader just made it sound respectable — to myself and to others.

Then I came to Rishikesh.

But I didn't stop gambling when I moved.

I stopped the day I started building Aavya.

A Small Dream… That Grew

It started small.

Just three rooms, two spa rooms, and a yoga shala.

My needs weren't many. I still had some money. The project felt manageable — a little boutique dream.

But the dream had other plans.

It grew.

And it grew faster than my bank balance.

One phase led to another. New terraces. A garden. A café. A pottery studio. An outdoor studio. More rooms.

All without a safety net.

Then Came the Borrowing

I liquidated everything else — mutual funds, insurance, even my old car.

Still not enough.

And then began the next phase — asking anyone who believed in me to help keep things going.

In a way… it became community-funded.

Eventually, even that ran dry.

Then came the local moneylenders.

Yes — the ones every business article warns you about.

But by then, the dice had already been rolled.

The Game Continues

Each month, I somehow make it work — salaries, EMIs, rent.

And then suddenly, a new month begins.

Always a few lakhs short.

And then I laugh.

Because I know I can chew it.

Optimism as a Survival Skill

My sister says, "Ashish, you're the biggest optimist I know."

And maybe I am.

What else is there?

Optimism isn't a choice. It's in my DNA.

Sure, I Lost Money… But I Gained Something Else

I stepped away from screens and stock charts.

Something real.

And maybe that's the real win.

Why No Investors?

Some successful investors have asked to invest in Aavya.

And I've said no.

But because…

Who builds something like this — without guaranteed returns — just because it's beautiful?

Who will love it the way I do?

And yes — there is debt.

(Not counting coffee. Or cigarettes.)

The Team Is Aavya

People say, "Your team's salaries are too high for Rishikesh."

Maybe they are.

A New Relationship with Money

Once, money meant security.

Now?

Money is about what can be built with soul.

With character. With love.

If I have to choose between:

I'll build.

And live with the consequences.

Still Smiling. Still an Optimist.

I'm 55 now.

Aavya started just over a year ago.

But what keeps me going isn't just numbers.

It's what people feel here.

Each morning, I wake up to the hills and remember why I'm here.

Rishikesh has changed me.

And Aavya… has its own destiny.

Final Note

Am I still an optimist?

Yes.

Am I still a gambler?

Yes.

Aavya.

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If this story resonates with you, maybe Aavya is more than just a stay.