‘25,000 in a village, lakh in city is equal’: Noida resident says high-rise living ‘feels like hell’

When you are young, there are certain things that enter the checklist of your life. From owning a house, to buying a luxury car and finding your soulmate, these normally form the top three for many. However, it seems that even achieving all that will not give you the peace and comfort that you truly crave at the end.

In a video going viral on Instagram, Puneet Jindal a resident in a Noida high-rise explained why he believes expensive city apartments often come with stress, noise and discomfort despite having premium facilities.

The viral clip

In the video, Jindal first showed the luxury amenities available at his disposal in the society. He showed the swimming pool, clubhouse, sports court, yoga area, steam bath and sauna, all inside the societal complex. “I am sharing my experience. A flat worth crores has zero value, zero in my eyes. I don’t know about your point of view,” he said.

“Let me show you some good things first. Look, this swimming pool is built. This is a very wonderful club built within my society. Like, there is volleyball, basketball, cricket, it’s pretty good," he added.

However, after explaining the facilities, he revealed why he still felt unhappy living there. He said that daily life inside the apartment had become difficult because of poor ventilation and the way flats are designed. “Why this feels like hell, let me start telling you a bit of the story behind it," he said in the video.

He explained that the smell of cooking food spread inside the house because of the open kitchen setup. “My wife is tempering the food. And the problem with me is, it has already spread now. I normally sit here. I come out and sit here. I meditate here. Sneeze after sneeze starts," he shared.

He also complained about the foul smell coming from the washrooms and the high heat from multiple air conditioners running across the buildings. “Everyone’s AC is running, brother. This whole place becomes a furnace, brother. There is no such thing as fresh air here," he added.

Jindal also talked about the pressure of paying off loans in big cities. According to him, many people spend most of their salaries on EMIs and work long hours in order to maintain their lifestyle. “A 20-year loan… from morning till evening, you have to do an 8, 10-hour job. 50, 60, 70% of your salary goes into the loan. You are at risk. You are a slave," he said.

Comparing urban life with village life, he argued that cleaner air, lower costs and a slower routine made rural life more peaceful. Moreover, with the high cost of living, a person wasn’t saving much or enjoying luxury in their urban residences. “If you are earning 25,000 in a village and earning 1 lakh in a city, keep in mind, it is equal,” he explained.

Social media reactions

Jindal’s video received mixed reactions from viewers. While some agreed that apartment living was not as luxurious as it seemed, others felt that the view itself came from a place of access and luxury.

“I think the same, a flat is like a matchbox,” said a user.

“This video reveals that a man can not be happy with what he has. I wish I had a flat like that,” wrote another.

“City life gives opportunity, but peace is definitely missing,” one wrote.

“Buy a plot of land somewhere away from the city and build a house. Have a small garden where u can chill out in the evenings and early mornings. Life in flats is suffocating,” suggested another.