A photograph of a man diligently working on his laptop while standing outside a momo stall in Bengaluru has ignited a lively discussion on social media, prompting users to ponder the priorities of today’s tech professionals. In a city like Bengaluru, often dubbed the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, the sight of young professionals utilizing their laptops in various social settings has become increasingly common, a direct consequence of the rise of remote work.
Kritika Kumari, a user on X (formerly Twitter), shared the image of the Bengaluru techie, accompanied by the caption, “His priorities are sorted.” This seemingly straightforward observation sparked a flurry of reactions, with many internet users injecting humor into the situation by making light of corporate culture. Comments ranged from simple expressions of sympathy, such as “Corporate employee (crying emoji)”, to more elaborate jokes about the demands of office life. One user quipped, “Momo ke paise v dene hote hai na toh kaam krne padenge” (translation: “Even the momo guy needs to be paid, so you have to work”), while another humorously suggested, “Ek labour Karega bhi kya? Apne ghar ja kar English jhadega i am audible? My screen is visible or not?” (translation: “What else will a labourer do? He will go home and say in English, ‘am I audible?’ ‘Is my screen visible or not?'”).
However, amidst the amusement, several users offered plausible explanations for the techie’s unusual work location. Some suggested that he might have simply forgotten his phone at the office and was utilizing his laptop for online payment or placing an order. “Kuch nhi Phone office mein bhul gaya h, toh Momos wale ko Net Banking se money transfer kr raha h” (translation: “It’s nothing, he forgot his phone in the office. So he is paying the Momo person via Net Banking”) commented one user. Another added, “May be he lost his phone while travelling . So he is ordering the food using lap.”
Interestingly, this incident isn’t the first time a Bengaluru tech enthusiast has been spotted working in an unconventional location. In March, a photograph of a man diligently typing away on his laptop inside a Bengaluru theatre went viral, sparking similar debates on social media regarding work-life balance and the blurring lines between personal and professional life in today’s digitally connected world. While the image of the man working at the momo stall might be amusing, it underscores a larger conversation about the ever-present nature of work and the challenges of maintaining a healthy work-life balance in a world where technology makes it increasingly difficult to truly disconnect.
