Beyond the American Dream: Why We Traded Silicon Valley for Bangalore’s Cricket Stadiums 

After building successful careers in US Big Tech, Hemant Pandey and Vaashu Sharma chose to leave their lives in California to return to India in 2024. While they valued their professional growth, they found the restrictive H-1B visa stifling, limiting their travel and side hustles. Ultimately, the emotional pull of family and the desire to be part of major life events and festivals they had missed was too strong to ignore. They were also inspired by India’s rapid tech boom, seeing equal career opportunity but with greater purpose. Now in Bengaluru, they relish the convenience, the vibrant cricket culture, and the priceless time regained daily. Their story redefines success, prioritizing cultural connection and personal fulfillment over the traditional “American Dream.”

Beyond the American Dream: Why We Traded Silicon Valley for Bangalore’s Cricket Stadiums 

For Hemant Pandey and Vaashu Sharma, the decision to leave their high-flying careers in U.S. Big Tech wasn’t sparked in a boardroom. It was crystallized in the quiet moments of absence—missing a mother’s retirement party, a cousin’s wedding laughter, the electric chaos of a Diwali celebration back home in India. 

After nearly a decade in the United States, where they built impressive resumes at companies like Meta, Google, and Tesla, the couple made the conscious choice to return to India in late 2024. Their story is part of a growing reverse brain drain, but for them, it was a deeply personal calculation of happiness, purpose, and convenience. 

The Itch to Return: More Than Just Nostalgia 

While many tie their return to a financial target, Hemant and Vaashu set a date instead of a dollar amount. “My first thought was, do we want an X amount of money?” Vaashu recalls. “Hemant intervened and said that X would keep increasing. Instead, we picked a time.” 

The emotional pull was undeniable. “I felt happier whenever I visited India for holidays,” Hemant says. Vaashu adds, “I was tired of missing big celebrations… Indian festivals in the Bay Area had energy, but they could never match India.” 

But this wasn’t just a decision driven by sentiment. They were astute observers of India’s meteoric rise. They saw their friends in India enjoying similar lifestyles and recognized the explosive growth of India’s tech ecosystem. The “safety net” they built in the U.S. gave them the confidence to leverage their world-class experience back in a booming market. 

The Hidden Cost of the H-1B Life 

Beneath the surface of their successful American lives ran a constant undercurrent of anxiety and restriction tied to their H-1B visas. 

“The H-1B visa did not offer the flexibility we wanted,” Hemant states plainly. The couple found themselves in different renewal cycles, creating long periods where they were effectively locked down, unable to travel internationally for fear of not being allowed back in. This meant missing family events and living with the fear that they couldn’t be there for a family emergency. 

The restrictions extended beyond travel. “There was never an opportunity to pursue any projects or side hustles,” Hemant explains, noting that the H-1B visa prohibits secondary sources of income. The visa’s tie to a single employer also eliminated the possibility of a career break, creating a relentless pressure to perform. 

“There was this back-of-mind anxiety that we could get deported for the smallest things going wrong, even if it wasn’t our fault,” Vaashu shares. The increasingly volatile U.S. immigration landscape only solidified their decision, as they watched friends postpone trips home due to the risk of being denied re-entry. 

Rediscovering Life in India: Convenience and Community 

Since settling in Bangalore, India’s tech capital, the couple has embraced a new rhythm of life. 

Vaashu landed a role as a senior software engineer at Airbnb, a testament to the high-quality opportunities now available locally. Hemant is strategically exploring his next move in a vibrant market teeming with potential. 

The daily joys they’ve rediscovered are profound yet simple: 

• Time: “We have gotten back two to three hours every day we used to spend cooking and cleaning,” says Vaashu, thanks to the ability to hire affordable help—a stark contrast to their DIY life in California. 

• Culture: As huge cricket fans, they revel in no longer having to wake up at 3 a.m. to watch matches. “We’ve already watched two live games in the stadium… It’s a second religion in India,” Hemant says with a smile. 

• Connection: The instant delivery services, the unbeatable food options, and, most importantly, the proximity to family have rewoven them into the social fabric they missed. 

A Nuanced Reality 

Their return is not without its compromises. They acknowledge the challenges of crowding and air quality that come with life in a major Indian metropolis. 

Perhaps the most surprising hurdle has been generational. “It’s hard for my grandfather to digest that we moved back voluntarily,” Vaashu notes, “because of all the stories he has heard about the American dream.” 

But for Hemant and Vaashu, the dream has been redefined. It’s no longer about chasing an idealized life abroad but about building a fulfilling one on their own terms, at home. 

“We feel a sense of purpose,” Hemant concludes, “in paying taxes in our home country or employing Indians if we ever work on our own businesses.” Their move is more than a homecoming; it’s a bet on India’s future and a choice for a life rich in connection, convenience, and purpose.