Bengaluru CA reveals how middle-class Indian families quietly ‘tax’ their children's 20s: ‘My father's retirement was my responsibility’

Growing up in a middle-class Indian family means always prioritising finances. It also means, putting financial security at the top of the priority list, instead of personal ambitions. The responsibility of chipping in with money and supporting parents influences career choices. Something similar happened with Bengaluru-based Chartered Accountant, Meenal Goel. She recently opened up about how an unspoken expectation ended up shaping her journey.

Nobody told Meenal Goel to become an entrepreneur. But she already felt responsible for the family's future from a very young age. In a social media post, she explained how this unsaid responsibility affected her career decision.

‘My father's retirement was my responsibility’: Meenal Goel

Goel recalled growing up in a middle-class household where her father “worked hard his whole life”. During her teenage years, she began to feel that securing his retirement was her responsibility, even though nobody had openly placed that burden on her.


She described it as something children in Indian homes often understand without anyone saying it aloud. That feeling influenced her career decisions. Goel chose a “safe job” and chased a “safe salary”, not because she lacked ideas, but because taking risks came with a nagging question: “What if this doesn't work? What happens to them?”

How middle-class expectations can delay career ambitions

Goel eventually became financially stable and took care of her family, something she said she was proud of. However, she also felt she had spent the most experimental years of her life “optimising for safety instead of growth”.

She believes many people from her generation face a similar dilemma. They may not be forced to choose conventional careers, but the “weight of an unsaid expectation” can make taking risks difficult. According to Goel, this is one of the hidden costs of growing up middle class in India. While such households often raise hardworking and responsible individuals, young adults may feel compelled to prioritise family security over exploring their own potential.

‘It just quietly taxes their 20s’: CA on family responsibility

Goel eventually began building businesses, taking risks and starting companies, but believes she reached that stage later than she would have if the pressure had not been there. She described the experience as a quiet tax on young people's 20s, when they could otherwise experiment with ideas and explore different career paths.

Goel also encouraged parents to think about what they communicate without saying anything directly, pointing out that unspoken expectations can shape their children's decisions just as powerfully as explicit rules.

Internet reacts

A user wrote, "Unspoken expectations carry more weight than any rule someone actually says out loud. Respect for choosing responsibility first." One commented, "Very relatable for many of us who grew up in middle-class Indian homes. That unspoken sense of responsibility shapes so many career choices. Thank you for sharing it so honestly."