Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
For years, a six-figure salary in the tech industry was seen as a ticket to financial comfort. A viral post from Bengaluru is now challenging that assumption after a software engineer revealed why he drives a Rapido bike taxi on weekends.
The story was shared on X by a user named Shabaz, who said he booked a Rapido while travelling to Bannerghatta. What began as casual conversation during the ride soon turned into an eye-opening discussion about money, family responsibilities and the realities of urban life.
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According to Shabaz, the rider initially spoke to him in Kannada before switching to English after realising he was not fluent in the language. During their conversation, the rider asked what he did for a living.
“I told him I’m a software engineer,” Shabaz wrote.
The response surprised him.
The rider revealed that he too worked as a software developer at a multinational company and earned a six-figure salary. However, despite having a well-paying corporate job, he spent his weekends ferrying passengers through Rapido to earn additional income.
The reason, according to the rider, was simple. He is married, has a young child and wants to provide more financial security for his family.
The encounter left a strong impression on Shabaz.
“It genuinely made me think. If someone with a good tech job and a six-figure salary still feels the need for a weekend side hustle, how expensive has life become in Bangalore and other Tier-1 cities?” he wrote.
See the post here:
His post quickly gained traction online, prompting debate about inflation, housing costs, school fees and the financial pressures faced by middle-class families in major metropolitan areas.
While many users sympathised with the software engineer’s situation, others argued that driving a bike taxi may not be the most effective way to increase earnings in the long run. Some suggested that professionals in the technology sector could potentially generate greater returns by investing their time in learning new skills, pursuing certifications or preparing for higher-paying roles.
Regardless of where people stood on the issue, the story resonated because it highlighted a growing concern among urban professionals: even incomes that were once considered comfortable may no longer provide the same sense of financial security in India’s most expensive cities.
The viral post has since become a talking point about changing lifestyles, rising expenses and the side hustles many professionals are taking up to stay ahead.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
