When a love-struck Narayana Murthy used to travel ticketless for 11 hours to meet Sudha Murty

Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy recently shared a heartwarming and humorous anecdote from his past, recalling an 11-hour train journey without a ticket just to be with his wife, Sudha Murty.

The 77-year-old billionaire, in an interview with CNBC-TV18, candidly spoke about the spontaneity of his actions during his younger days when, as he puts it, his hormones were "kicking in."

Narayana Murthy Reflects On Young Love

Reflecting on that journey, Murthy shared, "Those days, you see, I was in love. Well, I should say what somebody has said... you know what I am talking about. The hormones would be kicking in... you know how it is." His 73-year-old wife, Sudha Murty, playfully interrupted, saying, "Not ever, no," as she blushed and did a facepalm.

This revelation comes amid the release of their biography, 'An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy,' authored by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. In the biography, Divakaruni explores the enduring nature of their marriage and the challenges faced by their children, Rohan and Akshata Murty.

The book delves into the struggles of the family's as Narayana Murthy dedicated significant time to building Infosys, leaving Sudha Murty and their children yearning for his presence. One poignant moment in the biography recounts how Rohan Murty questioned his father, asking, "Who do you love more — me and Akshata, or Infosys?" Despite Narayana Murthy's assurance, the book suggests that the family grappled with the challenges of his demanding work schedule.

Netizens Playfully Troll Murthy

Interestingly, this revelation also sparked online jests and light-hearted criticism. Murthy, known for advocating a 70-hour workweek, found himself at the receiving end of playful comments questioning the practicality of his intense work schedule, given his spontaneous train journey.

One user shared on X, “That’s only 59 of the 70 hours designated for that week. How unproductive that week must have been, would’ve caused significant financial stress to the company I suppose.” Another one quipped, “Did he work 70 hours that week? Just wondering.”

While the humorous incident sheds light on the personal side of the prominent business figure, it also opens a window into the complexities of maintaining a work-life balance, a topic Murthy himself has been vocal about in his advocacy for extended work hours.