Resign! Start a YouTube channel! Travel the world and actually enjoy life for once.
Rahul couldn't help but smile at the thought. The heavy cloud over his head was finally lifting, and freedom sounded amazing. He immediately opened the Porter app on his phone and booked a mini-truck.
Loading all of Ananya's expensive clutter and endless shopping bags into the truck, he sent it straight to her PG in Andheri. Good riddance.
Coming back to his now-spacious Virar flat, he looked around. Why keep this place? He decided right then to sell it. Without this flat, he wouldn't have to stress over a back-breaking EMI for the next thirty years. Plus, he could send the recovered downpayment to his parents in Nagpur for their retirement. The thought made him instantly cheerful.
The next morning, Rahul drove his Tata Nexon EV—the same one Ananya swore looked like an Ola cab—to his digital marketing agency.
"Rahul, are you absolutely sure about this?" his manager, Mr. Sharma, asked, looking genuinely surprised. "You handle some of our best client accounts. It's a big loss for us if you just pack up and leave so suddenly."
Rahul grinned, leaning comfortably in the chair. "Sharma sir, I've thought it through. I'm going to start my own travel vlog. I've managed viral campaigns for a dozen brands here; it's time I use those skills for myself and have some fun with it."
Seeing Rahul's upbeat and relaxed mood, Mr. Sharma smiled and gave a supportive nod. "Alright, if you've made up your mind, I won't stop you. Go see the HR and finance teams. I'll make sure they process this month's salary in full without making you serve the notice period. All the best, man."
"Thanks a lot, sir!"
Rahul walked out with a full month's pay cleared, which was a solid amount for a Mumbai corporate job. Usually, his salary vanished into loans and Ananya's weekend demands within the first ten days. Now, the money was entirely his. Life was already looking up.
On his way back, he stopped by a local real estate broker and handed over the keys to list his flat. While casually chatting with the broker, his phone buzzed. It was Ananya's father. Rahul let out a short laugh and hit the reject button. They were broken up; he had zero obligations to listen to the old man yell at him.
Next on the agenda was the car. He drove to a used car dealer lot. Just as he parked, his phone rang again. This time it was his mother.
Knowing Ananya's dramatic family, they had probably already called his parents to complain. Rahul took a deep breath and answered.
"Beta, is everything okay in Mumbai? You must be so stressed," his mother's voice came through, filled with warmth. "Your father and I were talking. If Ananya's family wants fifty lakhs as a security deposit, we will figure it out."
"Ma, wait..." Rahul tried to interject, but she continued.
"Listen to me first. We are thinking of selling the ancestral plot in the village. We can give you the money so you can marry Ananya happily. We don't want your future to be delayed or ruined because of money."
Rahul's heart melted at her words, but he quickly put on a cheerful voice to ease her worries.
"Ma, relax! Ananya and I broke up, and it's honestly the best thing that's happened to me in years. Please don't even think about selling any land," Rahul said with a bright laugh. "I'm selling the Mumbai flat and starting my own business online. I'll be travelling and seeing the world! Don't worry about my marriage, I've got plenty of time. Keep that land for yourselves, you guys need to just relax and enjoy your retirement."
He heard a long sigh of relief from his mother. "Okay, beta. As long as you are happy and smiling, your father and I are fine with whatever you decide."
Feeling lighter than ever, Rahul walked up to the car dealer. He had bought the EV just two months ago for about sixteen lakhs, taking a heavy SBI loan. The dealer inspected it and offered eleven lakhs. It was standard market depreciation, but Rahul was in a great mood and didn't care. He just wanted to clear his debts. After the dealer settled the bank loan and deducted some paperwork fees, Rahul walked out with about four lakhs in cash transferred directly to his account.
He hailed an auto-rickshaw home, enjoying the warm Mumbai breeze.
Back in his empty flat, he tossed a few comfortable clothes into a sturdy backpack. He dug out his DJI Pocket 3 camera, which he had bought to record Ananya's aesthetic cafe dates, completely unused. Finally, he found his passport.
He sat on the floor, tapping his chin. Where should he go first? India had amazing places, but the travel vlogging space here was super crowded. He needed a place that was slightly chaotic, incredibly interesting, and relatively cheap to get views.
But with an Indian passport, applying for a Schengen or US visa right after quitting his job with no permanent address was a guaranteed headache. He needed a place with easy entry.
He opened YouTube and started scrolling. Thailand? Too common, mostly just bachelor parties. Vietnam? Getting a bit saturated. Then a thumbnail caught his eye. It was a popular Indian vlogger navigating a massive, colorful traffic jam of cycle-rickshaws.
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Rahul clicked the video. The environment looked bustling, raw, and full of character. It was culturally close enough to India to navigate easily, but visually different enough to make great content. Plus, the visa process for Indians was incredibly simple and fast.
Perfect. It had that rugged, adventurous vibe that viewers loved.
He opened the MakeMyTrip app. A flight from Mumbai to Dhaka, with a short layover in Kolkata, was surprisingly cheap. He booked a ticket for early tomorrow morning. Since he didn't have a solid itinerary yet, he just booked a modest but safe budget hotel in Gulshan, a nicer neighborhood in Dhaka, for the first few days.
Next, he jogged down to a local forex shop in the market. Since digital payments weren't as ubiquitous everywhere outside India, he needed cash. He exchanged some rupees and got a thick stack of Bangladeshi Taka.
Late that night, with his backpack strapped on and a huge grin on his face, Rahul booked a cab to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. His new life was officially starting.