A Story of Two Guys Who Didn’t Know What They Were Doing

Okay, so where do I start? Nikku, or Ayush Nikam (but let's stick with Nikku because it feels more appropriate), and I have known each other since 2018. Some days (every day) I feel that’s unfortunate, but here we are. Then there’s Ayushman Saraf—I met him in 2021, who somehow, ends up being my roommate in college.

The next thing I know - I’m blissfully unaware that I’ve missed another 8 am class, while Ayushman and Nikku are already halfway through a plate of poha at JP. And yes, the poha is important. It's basically the zeroday behind Zerodays (I apologize).

 These two couldn't be more different if they tried.

Nikku's the type who needs a cuddle buddy to sleep, while Ayushman..., let's just say if you replaced him with a pillow, you wouldn't notice the difference for a solid 8 hours. One belts out Bollywood in the shower, forgetting he has places to be, while the other's busy imagining 10 different ways he could slip and knock out his front teeth.

The Birth of Zerodays

Now, I could tell you it was their experiences in group projects that brought them together, but really - neither of them actually did much work. The real magic happened over plates of poha, momos, chicken rolls, and Merediann ice cream runs, and a four-letter word (***r) that I’ll leave censored for now (give me three years, and maybe I’ll stop hiding it behind asterisks).

So, what was it? It was a shared fear of monotony. Stuck in the same 9-5 grind we all dread, craving something more, it wasn't about having the same personality or interests; it was about that shared feeling of being a bit lost, a bit scared, and a whole lot ready to take a leap into the unknown. 

It was about stepping out of their comfort zones and taking that one terrifying leap of faith. So, they jumped. Together.

Fast forward to Christmas 2023. We're in Kathmandu, crammed into a double king-sized bed in Nani's house, five of us watching Home Alone. It's freezing outside, and it's never felt more like Christmas.

We woke up at an ungodly hour to go see the Himalayas at Nagarkot (managed to spot Everest too). Everyone's exhausted, ready to hibernate. Everyone except me, that is.

And if I'm not sleeping, there's no way I'm letting Nikku sleep either. Ayushman, being the old man, he was becoming, sensibly went to bed. 

That's when Nikku drops the bomb - Zerodays. Not just as a concept, though, but a full-fledged brand with a logo, patent, designs for their first launch, and a rough plan that made me more scared than surprised.

When I asked them when they were launching, Ayushman casually drops, “June.” June. That was six months away. And for me, my friends were just getting old (seriously, Ayushman’s gym schedule was already starting to scare me), but they were out here ready to make even bigger moves.

Ayushman had been the guy with the plan—scheduled, structured, goals locked in. But here’s where I'm forced against every fiber of my being to give Nikku some credit. 

After Kathmandu, something changed. Suddenly, he was there with Ayushman, driven and ready to roll. Seeing Nikku transform from a "useless blob gaming on his computer" (his words, not mine - I'm lying, my words) was unexpected but necessary.  

It was in those Kathmandu days that Zerodays went from being a dream to a reality

These two have always been creative in their own ways. Ayushman, with his past sneaker customization business, and Nikku with his designs, games, and maybe music (I haven’t ever heard it, but if you do, feel privileged.)

Nikku dropped out of engineering because 1) he wasn't good at it, and 2) he wasn’t happy. So, when he met Ayushman, ambitious and annoyingly hardworking, the writing was on the wall. 

What Zerodays stands for goes beyond the surface. This isn’t just about high-quality products or another lifestyle brand trying to fit into a niche. It’s about community—finding people who, like Ayushman and Nikku, felt lost at some point and offering them the tools and inspiration to take their own leap of faith. 

Through their designs, their content, and their entire brand philosophy, they wanted to build a Zerodays Community. A place where people would find direction, take that same leap of faith, and most importantly, become the best versions of themselves. That’s the Zerodays lifestyle brand in a nutshell. A community built from scratch, starting at zero.

Two guys, tired of the office grind, sick of their lazy routines, and knew they wanted change. And so they started from zero. On their zero day, they felt scared. But that’s the point. They were willing to finally take that risk, knowing that once they took that leap, there was no step back. They knew that nothing else had ever felt more right.

And here they are, a reminder that if you take that step, you might just surprise yourself.

So, What's Next?

The journey from 'Thuk' (thank the universe they didn't stick with that name) to 'Zerodays'. They've come a long way, but there's still a good chunk of road ahead.

Before I wrap this up, let me leave you with this: Zerodays isn't just a lifestyle brand. It's not just about the clothes or the designs. It's about that moment when you decide to start from scratch, to face the unknown, to take that terrifying first step. It's about building a community of dreamers who aren't afraid to have a zero day.

So, whether you're lost, stuck, or just in need of really comfortable clothes, remember: every day can be your zero day. And maybe your zero day will turn into something as crazy as Zerodays.

Welcome to the family. It's a scary ride, but at least the company's good and the clothes are comfy.

Afterword 

So, I don't actually hate Nikku as much as I've let on. He’s alright… most days. But rest assured, he will always be my prime target. Oh, and when you do finally meet him, make sure to ask him about his two front teeth.