<p>Karan reaches home at two in the night after a hectic day at work. Tired, irritated and hungry, he heads for the kitchen to fetch something but all he can lay his hands on are some leftover biscuits, a half-eaten apple and a packet of wafers. Not quite the meal one would want after a hard day’s work.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Alas, more often than not this typifies the life of a person who lives on his or her own in a city like Delhi, or any other metropolitan, miles away from home, family and more importantly Mom’s cooking! <br /><br />“One has to manage everything, from cooking to doing household chores. Although, I don’t like doing it, I am left with no choice. I don’t even have a maid to wash my utensils and clothes. I do it all myself,” says Karan Kapoor, a photographer living in Delhi for the last five years.<br /><br />“At times I have cried while talking to my mother...it is so frustrating. I came to this city for the sake of my career and am doing quite well. But at times you look forward to seeing someone when you enter your home. There is no one to even serve you food. Although I have friends in the city but they can’t compensate for my family,” he says.<br /><br />Many youngsters leave their home and hearth, heading to Delhi to either seek admission in Delhi University, prepare for civil services or some elite course or even land their dream job and carve a niche for themselves. <br /><br />Delhi is after all a land of opportunities. Given the rush of city life, most of the youngsters don’t believe in cooking for themselves as it means cutting down on precious time meant for studying. As a result they opt for tiffinwalas or frequent small restaurants and dhabas, which can be a drain on the pocket and affect health too, in the long run. <br /><br />So, living alone, managing expenses, cooking are added pressures to the already existing ones of studying, staying abreast at coaching institutes, fee and health concerns.<br /><br /> “I am from Kolkata and came to Delhi to get admission in a college to do my photography course. Although I got financial support from my family but what I miss most is the emotional support of my mother. Earlier, when I used to get cranky or upset, my mother was always there to console me. But now I am on my own. I cannot even call up my parents all the time and share my stress and pain because then they will get tensed and worked-up about my wellbeing, which I don’t want,” said Amrita Das, a photo editor with a leading magazine.<br /><br />Ankit Kumar, another migrant, shares his life story with Metrolife. “By the end of the month when I am left with no money, I end up eating dahi or water with chivada. What else to do, the rent is so high in this city and I can’t compromise and live just anywhere. Also, I don’t like to ask my parents for money. So, somehow I try and manage <br />it as best I can in my meagre salary.”<br /><br />If on one hand boys are not questioned by their neighbours, ‘single’ girls face the glares and censure of their neighbours. “The neighbours will not bother to intervene when a woman is beaten up by her husband, but the minute you are single you attract attention.<br /><br /> I have a large group of friends, which obviously has boys as well, and they do come to my place often. And whenever they come, someone or the other is always watching. It is very strange...but I have no choice but to live with such people around me,” said Kartiki Negi, a media professional who often comes home late, sometimes close to midnight.<br /></p>
<p>Karan reaches home at two in the night after a hectic day at work. Tired, irritated and hungry, he heads for the kitchen to fetch something but all he can lay his hands on are some leftover biscuits, a half-eaten apple and a packet of wafers. Not quite the meal one would want after a hard day’s work.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Alas, more often than not this typifies the life of a person who lives on his or her own in a city like Delhi, or any other metropolitan, miles away from home, family and more importantly Mom’s cooking! <br /><br />“One has to manage everything, from cooking to doing household chores. Although, I don’t like doing it, I am left with no choice. I don’t even have a maid to wash my utensils and clothes. I do it all myself,” says Karan Kapoor, a photographer living in Delhi for the last five years.<br /><br />“At times I have cried while talking to my mother...it is so frustrating. I came to this city for the sake of my career and am doing quite well. But at times you look forward to seeing someone when you enter your home. There is no one to even serve you food. Although I have friends in the city but they can’t compensate for my family,” he says.<br /><br />Many youngsters leave their home and hearth, heading to Delhi to either seek admission in Delhi University, prepare for civil services or some elite course or even land their dream job and carve a niche for themselves. <br /><br />Delhi is after all a land of opportunities. Given the rush of city life, most of the youngsters don’t believe in cooking for themselves as it means cutting down on precious time meant for studying. As a result they opt for tiffinwalas or frequent small restaurants and dhabas, which can be a drain on the pocket and affect health too, in the long run. <br /><br />So, living alone, managing expenses, cooking are added pressures to the already existing ones of studying, staying abreast at coaching institutes, fee and health concerns.<br /><br /> “I am from Kolkata and came to Delhi to get admission in a college to do my photography course. Although I got financial support from my family but what I miss most is the emotional support of my mother. Earlier, when I used to get cranky or upset, my mother was always there to console me. But now I am on my own. I cannot even call up my parents all the time and share my stress and pain because then they will get tensed and worked-up about my wellbeing, which I don’t want,” said Amrita Das, a photo editor with a leading magazine.<br /><br />Ankit Kumar, another migrant, shares his life story with Metrolife. “By the end of the month when I am left with no money, I end up eating dahi or water with chivada. What else to do, the rent is so high in this city and I can’t compromise and live just anywhere. Also, I don’t like to ask my parents for money. So, somehow I try and manage <br />it as best I can in my meagre salary.”<br /><br />If on one hand boys are not questioned by their neighbours, ‘single’ girls face the glares and censure of their neighbours. “The neighbours will not bother to intervene when a woman is beaten up by her husband, but the minute you are single you attract attention.<br /><br /> I have a large group of friends, which obviously has boys as well, and they do come to my place often. And whenever they come, someone or the other is always watching. It is very strange...but I have no choice but to live with such people around me,” said Kartiki Negi, a media professional who often comes home late, sometimes close to midnight.<br /></p>
