'What's your excuse?': Indian PhD scholar turns Rapido rider at night to escape burnout, inspires thousands online

Side gigs are all the rage right now. Everyone recommends having one in order to ensure a larger sum of income coming into your account. However, with corporate slavery not many have the time to pursue side gigs and burnouts are the common outcome.

Many have their own ways of dealing with pressure. While some leave the job, others take up farming. Amid these changing ideas of work, a young PhD scholar has chosen a different path. Deepak Pandey was so frustrated with the monotonous 9-5 that he decided to do something about it after all.

He began working as a Rapido bike taxi ride after office hours and now earns over Rs 600-700 a day. On days when he rides full-time, his earnings can go up to Rs 1500. While he began this as a way to clear his mind, soon it became part of his daily routine.

Today, after finishing his corporate job, Pandey rides passengers across the city. Alongside, he works on his doctoral research, cooks his own meals, edits videos and creates content for social media. He shares much of his journey on his account, @trippypandeyy03. According to him, leaving the job brought him more satisfaction than the routine he once followed.

In the clip shared online, he spoke about a phase when he felt exhausted at the end of every working day. Despite having a stable job, he said he often felt unmotivated and stuck in a cycle that left him feeling unfulfilled. "After a 9-to-5 job, tiredness is often just an excuse. When your dreams are big, your feet don't give up even at 11 pm, they press the accelerator harder. Office, bike taxi, cooking, and PhD, this is my story. What's your excuse? Step out of your comfort zone and start today," he wrote alongside the video.

At some point, he decided to stop letting fear shape his choices. Fear of failure, fear of judgment, and fear of stepping into unfamiliar territory had prevented him from trying new things for years, he said.

Instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity, he enrolled in a PhD programme and began working as a bike taxi driver during evenings along with creating content online. Over time, he realised that he was capable of doing more than he imagined.

Social media reactions

Pandey's story resonated with numerous viewers who shared their own experiences of balancing jobs with side hustles. Some said his story inspired them to use their free time more productively rather than abandoning their existing careers altogether.

"Brother, getting inspired by you, I am also doing Rapido along with a 9-to-5 job and I am very happy that I am earning something," wrote one.

"True hustle!! Wish u great luck" added another.

"Brother, this job is a very good one. Every day we get to meet new people, talk to them, and hear about their experiences. We also earn a little money," one said.

However, there were others who worried about the effects of such a demanding schedule over a long period of time. Some users pointed to the possibility of physical exhaustion and mental burnout, arguing that constant productivity should not become a new standard for success.

Pandey's story struck a chord among many since most in today's time are juggling self-care, studying and corporate jobs, all in order to succeed and make something of their lives.