'Dubai mein hu, par khush nahi': Indian woman says life was better in Bengaluru even with a salary of Rs 18,000

Seema Purohit, an Indian professional based in Dubai, recently opened up on Instagram about how a high-paying job abroad hasn’t brought her the happiness she expected. In a candid video titled “Life gave me lemons, and I’m here to rant about it,” she reflected on her time in Bengaluru, where a modest income once brought her far more contentment.

Purohit shared that she moved to Dubai in search of better opportunities and higher pay. Yet, despite earning much more now, she feels something crucial is missing. Recalling her first job in Bengaluru, where she earned just Rs 18,000 a month, she said, “Sirf Rs 18,000 salary thi meri Bangalore mein, meri first job. Aur jab mujhe apni salary mili na main apne aap ko duniya ki sabse ameer ladki manti thi” (My salary in Bangalore for my first job was only Rs 18,000, but when I got it, I felt like the richest girl in the world).

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She nostalgically described how that small salary covered her PG rent, street shopping, canteen meals, weekend outings, and even allowed her some savings. “Apni salary se khush, apni life se khush… I was the happiest woman on the planet” (Happy with my salary, happy with my life), she added.

The contrast with her life in Dubai is stark. “Aaj Rs 18,000 se kai zyada kama rahi hu, Dubai mein hu, but still utni khush nahi hu jitni tab thi” (Today I earn much more than Rs 18,000, I’m in Dubai, but still not as happy as I was back then), she admitted, questioning whether the constant pursuit of corporate success is worth the strain on mental wellbeing.

Her story resonates with many young professionals expressing similar feelings online. A recent viral Reddit post echoed this sentiment, where a 25-year-old AI engineer shared that despite achieving a net worth of Rs 1 crore, he still felt empty. Working over 60 hours a week, he wrote, “When it happened, I just stepped out for a smoke. Nothing in life changed, except me looking toward the next milestone. Am I mentally sound?”