“Apartment Life Feels Like Jail”: Influencer’s Viral Rant on Missing Mohalla Vibes Sparks Heated Debate
"Apartment Life Feels Like Jail”: Influencer’s Viral Rant on Missing Mohalla Vibes Sparks Heated Debate
A viral video is sparking conversations on social media after a woman influencer compared her life in a residential apartment to her earlier days in a mohalla or basti. In the clip, she shares how the charm of apartment living faded once she experienced it up close.
She begins by saying, “Yeh sab dur se dekhne mein acchi lagti hain.” Reflecting on her expectations, she adds, “Jab tak mein yaha nahi rehti thi, mujhe lagta tha ki building ki life kitni aaramdayak hoti hain, bahot jyada chakachaund hoti hain, lights hoti hain. Vaha pe rehne ka apna alag hi maza hain, par jab mein yaha pe shift hui, mere saare maze nikal gaye, yeh building kam jail jyada lagne laga hain.”
According to her, even after living in the building for four years, she barely knows her neighbors or their routines. She also misses the open terrace she once enjoyed in the basti, saying the apartment lifestyle feels isolating in comparison.
Social Media Reacts: Netizens Split Over Her Views
Once the video began circulating on X (formerly Twitter), opinions quickly split. One of the captions of the viral clip read, “A woman explains how life in apartments is shallow/hollow and boring when compared to living in a Mohallah/Basti. How many can relate to her story and experience? Given an opportunity, what life would you choose between living in an apartment or a Mohallah/Basti?”
Some users sympathized with her perspective, while others criticized it sharply. One comment pointed out, “She moved from lower middle class to middle class. That’s her main problem.”
Another user explained the difference through lifestyle choices, writing, “Honestly, it depends on what you crave more: 
Apartment life = privacy, convenience, and 24/7 delivery. 
Mohallah/Basti = chai on every doorstep, kids playing cricket till dusk, neighbors who feel like family. I grew up with that galli energy, and nothing matches it. What about you—team apartment or team mohalla vibes?”
Highlighting personality differences, a third person wrote, “Gregarious extrovert people will enjoy the Basti. Reserved, introverted people will enjoy apartments more. And the lady speaking on what happens at the neighbor’s, when they come, when they go? Is she apartment security? You can move from basti to society, but the basti mindset is permanent, I guess.”
Some criticized her remarks as ungrateful. One user commented, “People living in expensive homes have worked hard to have better living conditions than what they had as kids; most of them have 12-hour workdays 6 days a week, including commuting. Many find it difficult to spend time with their own kids, forget friends and relatives. She’s probably still living in the 90s era; if she misses it so much, she should go back instead of being ungrateful for a better life.”
Adding to the discussion, another said, “Apartments may be suitable for bachelors or individuals seeking privacy, but they often lack the vibrancy that families with children or those desiring a strong sense of community seek. They can feel isolating and may not foster the same opportunities for connection and neighborhood bonding as other living arrangements.”
The video has opened up a larger conversation about the contrast between modern apartment life and the close-knit culture of traditional mohallas. For some, apartment living represents privacy and convenience; for others, it feels lonely and disconnected.
