Episode 60: The Unpaid Internship — When a Bright Girl Becomes a Free Resource in a Costly City
Series: Broken by Burden: Financial Survival Strategies for the Troubled Mind
Date: 25 Aug 2025
🎭 From Ranchi to Reality
Pallavi was always her father’s pride — sharp, soft-spoken, and quietly ambitious. Raised in a two-bedroom apartment in Ranchi where the ceiling fan hummed louder than the dreams, she devoured library books like oxygen. Her father, a retired LIC agent, once said, “If there’s one person who’ll bring a name to this house, it’s you.”
When she got into Delhi School of Economics, her mother borrowed ₹20,000 from a neighbor to buy her a laptop.
By her final semester, she had earned a coveted internship at a big policy think tank in Mumbai. A name that would shine on her CV like gold — but there was a catch.
It was unpaid.
“Experience matters more than money,” the HR had said over email, with a smiley face.
Pallavi boarded the sleeper train with a suitcase full of cotton kurtas, a printed resume, and a packet of Parle-Gs.
Mumbai hit her like a storm.
The rent for a shared PG in Andheri was ₹9,000 — nearly her father’s pension. So, she bunked with a distant cousin in Dombivli and commuted 2.5 hours each way.
Every morning, she woke at 5:00 a.m. to board the crowded local, clinging to her satchel like it held her future — because it did.
At the office, she was the quiet intern who drafted reports, proofread policy memos, and even made coffee when the admin staff was away.
She worked like she was paid in lakhs. But in reality, she was paid in exposure — and instant noodles.
💬 Dialogue Snippets
Roommate Riya (slurping Maggi):
“Girl, again you skipped lunch?”
Pallavi (smiling weakly):
“Saving up for the monthly pass. Also… the chai near the station costs ₹20 now.”
HR Manager (at the office):
“Pallavi, that budget summary you made? Excellent work. We shared it with NITI Aayog.”
Pallavi (quietly):
“Thank you, ma’am… Would it be okay to reimburse my travel at least?”
HR Manager (pausing):
“Hmm, budget’s tight this quarter. But the experience is priceless, no?”
That night, she cried silently into her pillow — not from sadness, but from hunger and humiliation.
💔 Her Mother’s Phone Call
One Sunday, her mother called.
Ma (worried):
“Tu bahut patli lag rahi hai video mein. Sab thik hai na, beta?”
Pallavi (holding back tears):
“Bas, kaam zyada hai… Mumbai ki hawa lag gayi hai, maybe.”
But the truth was — she’d traded her pride for LinkedIn recommendations. Applause, not allowances, became her currency.
🧠 Psychological Insight:
Pallavi’s journey is not rare — it’s the silent exploitation of brilliance under the guise of opportunity. She is not weak, but the system is — one that romanticizes struggle and undervalues young labor.
For girls like her:
- Pride is often tied to how little they ask for.
- Sacrifice is celebrated, but support is scarce.
- And financial distress is disguised under the banner of “hard work builds character.”
🛠️ Survival Strategies for Interns in Expensive Cities:
- Research paid vs unpaid options:
- Not all prestige is worth poverty. Sometimes, a lesser-known firm that pays is better than a giant that doesn’t.
- Apply for hardship stipends and housing aid:
- Many colleges, alumni networks, or NGOs offer small grants for internships. Always ask.
- Create a bare-bones survival budget:
- Food, transport, emergency. Prioritize. Automate reminders. Avoid impulse spending.
- Document everything you contribute:
- Maintain proof of your work. It might help you land a better, paying role.
- Don’t glamorize starvation for exposure.
- You’re a student, not a martyr.
🌱 Where Pallavi Is Now
After three months, Pallavi was offered a full-time Research Associate role — still underpaid, but paid nonetheless. She shifted to a small hostel run by an NGO for working women. She now mentors young interns and ensures her juniors get travel reimbursements and dignity.
“Experience is good,” she now says.
“But so is dinner.”
📍 Episode 61: The Son-in-Law Who Never Worked — When Entitlement Becomes a Family’s Financial Cancer
Ramesh was always charming but jobless. After marriage, he moved into his in-laws’ home — slowly turning Saroj’s pension into his allowance. When the daughter collapses under guilt and bills, the mother is forced to confront a parasite wrapped in tradition.
⚠️ Disclaimer:
This blog series is intended for emotional and financial reflection. It is not a substitute for professional advice. If you or someone you know is facing emotional distress, debt-related trauma, or abuse, please consult a licensed mental health professional, legal advisor, or financial planner.
Names and scenarios are fictionalized to protect identities but are based on real stories and societal patterns.
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