A Gurgaon-based professional’s emotional Instagram post has become the latest flashpoint in India’s growing conversation about the pressures of corporate life and the vanishing boundary between work and personal well-being.

The video, uploaded by Instagram user Director Dayal, shows him speaking candidly about the exhaustion that consumes his everyday life. Sitting inside his Rs 14,500-a-month rented flat, Dayal gives viewers a tour of his cluttered surroundings, a mirror of his overworked existence.

“Ye log jo bol dete hai worklife balance jaisi koi chiz nahi hoti, aaj mai dikhata hu ki ye kyu important hai,” he begins, moving his phone camera across an unmade bed and piles of laundry that have been untouched for days. The floor, he admits, has not been cleaned in a week. “Isme dhaniye ke patte jam gaye hai lekin main ye saaf nahi kar pa raha hu,” he adds, pointing to the dried herbs on the floor.

In the kitchen, utensils lie stacked in the sink unwashed for four days. Holding up a small lamp he once bought to unwind after work, he laments that he never gets the chance to switch it on. “12-12 ghante ki shift, labour se bura haal ho chuka hai,” he confesses, his tone revealing both exhaustion and resignation.

His Message to Three People Who Matter Most

As the video nears its end, Dayal turns introspective and directs heartfelt appeals toward his boss, parents, and the woman he loves.

“Sir, mai mentally pagal ho chuka hoon kaam kar kar ke, mujhe nahi chahiye paisa,” he says to his employer, voicing the mental toll of relentless work. To his family, he adds, “Mere gharwale, samajho ki phone nahi utha raha hu toh kuch kar raha hounga.” And to his partner, he pleads softly, “Wo ladki jiske liye hi main ye sab kuch kar raha hu, please try to understand, isse jyada main nahi kar sakta.”

The Internet Reacts: ‘Every Corporate Worker’s Reality’

Within hours of being posted, the video crossed seven million views, with thousands of users weighing in. Many described it as a painfully accurate glimpse into the lives of India’s young professionals. One user commented, “A mirror held up to every exhausted corporate worker.” Another wrote that it was “how silent burnout looks inside a rented room.”

A few, however, pushed back against the sentiment, arguing that personal discipline plays a role too. “Dayal bhai, let’s not blame the 9-to-5. The mess in your room isn’t your job’s fault it’s about self-discipline. Wake up early, exercise, eat healthy, and make time for yourself,” one user said.

Despite the debate, a large number of viewers rallied behind Dayal’s message. “Start saying no, bro. Unless you do, no one will listen,” one supporter advised, while another commented, “My heart goes out to you, brother.”

A Window into Modern Corporate Fatigue

Beyond its viral reach, Dayal’s post has reignited a larger discussion about toxic work habits and the neglect of mental health in India’s urban workforce. Many young professionals echoed his experience, sharing their own stories of burnout and isolation.

One commenter recalled, “I remember in my first job I used to leave at 7:30 a.m. and return past midnight. I lost 8 kg in six months. My manager mocked me for taking lunch breaks. No pay for weekends or overtime. Eventually, I upskilled and joined JPMorgan only then did life get better.”

Work-Life Balance: The Modern Worker’s Dilemma

While debates over accountability continue, what remains undeniable is the resonance of Dayal’s raw honesty. His small Gurgaon apartment, its untidy corners and unwashed dishes has become a symbol of a generation stretched thin between ambition and exhaustion.

As one user aptly wrote beneath his post, “Work-life balance isn’t a myth it’s a privilege.”