The protagonist Max’s rugged external adventure from the “dark underbelly of New York to a world of hidden ashrams, surreal night markets, and remote caves in India” is partially inspired by his journey, said Mr Bajaj, who was selected as one of the top 10 young business leaders of India by the Aditya Birla Foundation and has worked in the Philippines, Singapore and the US, as also in Europe. He has of course fictionalised it to “make it much more pulsating and interesting”.

The couple’s sabbatical did change them - so much so that they now have stopped drinking alcohol and try not to waste time in superficial chatter. Even their friends’ circle has changed. “We got rid of our TV. We’re reading books much more selectively than before so as to keep our ideas pure. Every day, something changes,” explained Bajaj, who practices yoga and mediates every day as he feels it is “crucial” to his well-being.

Also, in his quest to live like a yogi, he said he is trying to imbibe the yogic ethos of dissolving narrow sense of self and becoming a mere medium for consciousness to express itself. “The Buddha said that there are three phases of learning - reading, reflection and experience. I think I’ve gotten most of my answers from reading and reflecting. Experience wise, I’ve barely scratched the surface. I don’t think one lifetime will be enough,” Mr Bajaj said.