In a world where “grind now, shine later” has become the corporate gospel, one Bengaluru techie’s raw confession is striking a painful chord with thousands. Shared anonymously, his honest and heartbreaking post captures the modern Indian workplace’s harsh reality, where 16-hour workdays, cancelled leaves, and toxic expectations are normalised, and self-worth is tied to productivity. His story isn’t unique—but the brutal clarity with which he puts it into words makes it impossible to scroll past.
Since joining his company in August 2022, this software engineer has found himself buried under an unforgiving workload, clocking 14 to 16 hours a day with barely any time to breathe. The price? He’s gained 24 kilos, his sleep schedule is wrecked, and even a short trip to Nandi Hills—just a drive away from his home—has remained a dream. While his career may look steady on paper, he says he feels like a “corporate slave” with no control over his time or well-being.
The impact of this grind hasn’t just been physical. Emotionally, he feels hollow. His girlfriend, whom he calls the only positive thing in his life, has been unintentionally neglected. His mother’s growing concern is a daily reminder that his life is spiralling. Despite his sincere work ethic—helping peers, pushing deadlines, and putting in unending hours, he’s left wondering what all this effort is really for, if it means sacrificing everything else that makes life worth living.
His admission that he hasn't travelled in over 2.5 years is more than just a vacation complaint, it’s symbolic of a lifestyle that offers no pause, no room for recovery, and certainly no joy. Most weekends are swallowed by tasks. Leaves are cancelled, interviews are skipped, and self-care is non-existent. And when he finally looks up from the laptop, there’s no satisfaction—just exhaustion and the chilling realisation: “I’m not building a career, I’ve just become the ideal corporate slave.”
In the end, his final question cuts through the noise: “Am I really dying?” It’s not just physical burnout, it’s emotional depletion, a slow erosion of identity outside the office. His note has sparked conversations online about work-life balance, toxic hustle culture, and the need to reclaim life from the clutches of unchecked ambition.
Since joining his company in August 2022, this software engineer has found himself buried under an unforgiving workload, clocking 14 to 16 hours a day with barely any time to breathe. The price? He’s gained 24 kilos, his sleep schedule is wrecked, and even a short trip to Nandi Hills—just a drive away from his home—has remained a dream. While his career may look steady on paper, he says he feels like a “corporate slave” with no control over his time or well-being.
The impact of this grind hasn’t just been physical. Emotionally, he feels hollow. His girlfriend, whom he calls the only positive thing in his life, has been unintentionally neglected. His mother’s growing concern is a daily reminder that his life is spiralling. Despite his sincere work ethic—helping peers, pushing deadlines, and putting in unending hours, he’s left wondering what all this effort is really for, if it means sacrificing everything else that makes life worth living.
His admission that he hasn't travelled in over 2.5 years is more than just a vacation complaint, it’s symbolic of a lifestyle that offers no pause, no room for recovery, and certainly no joy. Most weekends are swallowed by tasks. Leaves are cancelled, interviews are skipped, and self-care is non-existent. And when he finally looks up from the laptop, there’s no satisfaction—just exhaustion and the chilling realisation: “I’m not building a career, I’ve just become the ideal corporate slave.”
In the end, his final question cuts through the noise: “Am I really dying?” It’s not just physical burnout, it’s emotional depletion, a slow erosion of identity outside the office. His note has sparked conversations online about work-life balance, toxic hustle culture, and the need to reclaim life from the clutches of unchecked ambition.
