Entrepreneur Nishkarsh Sharma’s viral breakdown shows how a ₹1 lakh salary quickly evaporates: ₹25,000 on rent, ₹15,000 on EMIs, ₹10,000 each on transport, groceries, family support, and healthcare. By month-end, little remains for savings. With costs rising faster than paychecks, the middle-class dream feels broken, pushing many toward skills, entrepreneurship, and the internet economy.