Techie misses girlfriend's birthday, misses dinner again for bug fix. His post on always-on work culture breaks hearts

Time of India

30-05-2025

In today's fast-paced corporate world, ambition is often rewarded — but not without a cost. One employee recently shared a deeply personal story online, shedding light on how his relentless dedication to work came at the expense of someone he dearly loved. His emotional revelation, posted anonymously on the subreddit Indian Workplace, revealed the unseen wounds that many professionals carry in silence — the price paid not in missed deadlines, but in
missed moments
with loved ones.
A Night Meant for Celebration Turned Cold
The employee had just achieved a significant milestone — a long-awaited promotion. His girlfriend, excited and proud, had planned a private dinner to celebrate. She cooked his favorite dishes — creamy dal makhani and perfectly charred tandoori rotis — and waited eagerly for his return. He had promised to be home by 8 PM.
But as the evening approached, a familiar disruption occurred. At 7:30 PM, a message from his manager appeared on Slack: a last-minute, high-priority bug needed fixing before the end of the day. It was flagged as 'critical' for an important client in Mumbai. What should have been a time for joy quickly spiraled into another night tethered to his laptop and fueled by caffeine.
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Hours ticked by, and six cups of coffee later, he finally sent the confirmation message—'Done'—at'' 1:12 AM. The celebration never happened. The lights in his home were out. The food had grown cold. And the warm anticipation in his girlfriend's eyes had dissolved into silent disappointment. He entered the house, muttered a brief apology about having to finish work, and retreated to his room. The night ended not in happiness but in a heavy mix of guilt and exhaustion.
Echoes of Support and Sadness Online
The post struck a chord with many Reddit users who empathized with the
emotional toll
of constant work pressure. Fellow professionals rallied around the anonymous employee, urging him to reconsider his boundaries and prioritize his
personal life
. One user suggested developing subtle strategies to escape such unending demands — even using creative excuses like hospital visits to reclaim personal time.
Others shared their frustration with the toxic
work culture
prevalent in many Indian offices, where staying past work hours is normalized and rarely questioned. 'Just feels sad reading these posts almost daily,' one commenter wrote. 'It's the sad reality of life in Indian workplaces. We are just cheap labour where our personal lives don't matter.'
Yet, amidst the anger and frustration, there was also appreciation. One commenter noted that the fact the man felt remorse for disappointing his girlfriend showed that he truly valued her. They lamented that many partners go unappreciated despite juggling jobs and responsibilities. This post, they said, offered a glimmer of hope — proof that some still recognize and cherish their loved ones' efforts.
A Wake-Up Call for Change
The emotional outpouring from strangers highlighted not just one man's regret, but a deeper, systemic issue. The culture of urgency and constant availability may drive business forward, but it leaves emotional wreckage in its path. The message is clear — it's time for a collective shift. Because promotions might come and go, but lost moments with loved ones never return.