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An NRI’s Reddit post about being asked to contribute another Rs 15-20 lakh for his brother’s flat after years of supporting his family has triggered a heated debate online
An NRI’s Reddit post about repeatedly being asked to financially support his family has struck a chord online (Image-AI)
An Indian man working abroad has gone viral after claiming his parents asked him to contribute another Rs 15-20 lakh towards buying an apartment for his elder brother, even though he says he has spent years supporting the family financially. His Reddit post has reignited conversations around family obligations, financial boundaries and sibling favouritism.
The post, shared on Reddit, quickly gained traction, with hundreds of users weighing in on whether the man was being unfairly burdened or simply fulfilling family obligations. Many commenters believed he had already contributed more than enough and urged him to prioritise his own financial future.
Sharing his story, the man said he has been living overseas for the past three years after spending six years working in India. He recalled that during the initial phase of his career, he was living “paycheck to paycheck” while trying to establish himself financially.
Despite the challenges, he purchased an apartment in the third year of his job and has continued paying its EMIs. According to him, his parents currently reside in that property.
The Redditor also spoke about his elder brother’s journey, explaining that his brother spent nearly five years preparing for government job examinations before eventually securing a position at a public sector bank.
The man said he had already made a substantial financial contribution towards his brother’s marriage. He claimed he gave Rs 10 lakh outright and also lent another Rs 9 lakh to ensure the wedding expenses did not leave the family with outside debt.
While the Rs 9 lakh has not yet been repaid, he said he has not been insisting on getting the money back immediately. However, the family’s latest request left him questioning the situation.
According to the post, his parents initially wanted him to pay Rs 40 lakh as the down payment for an apartment worth around Rs 1.1 crore. The property, he said, would have been registered solely in his brother’s name. He strongly opposed the proposal.
Around six months after the wedding, the family allegedly approached him again with a revised request, asking him to contribute between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh towards the same apartment.
The man further revealed that his financial support for the family extended far beyond his brother’s wedding.
Over the years, he said he had cleared several of his father’s debts, supported the family when his father’s business suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic and had been sending monthly allowances for the past nine years, increasing the amount in line with his salary growth. Seeking clarity, he ended his post by asking fellow Reddit users, “What am I missing?”
The viral post drew hundreds of responses, with many users advising him to establish clear financial boundaries.
“They’re just leeching off of you. I think it’s an Indian parent thing to bleed one kid dry to make the other kid’s life easier. When will your brother even pay the money he owes you on top of this 25 lakh? It’s unfair to ask you to put such a huge down payment when you don’t even have any claim or ownership over it. Please don’t do this. Tell them you lost your job or had to downsize your lifestyle or something. This is the cons of revealing your actual income to your family,” wrote one user.
Another commented, “Looks like you have done more than enough and they just want to use you as ATM for funding your brother’s lifestyle. Even if you give 15 lakhs, they will ask for more again in some months and eventually they will ask for full 1 crore plus to be paid by you and they will not stop there. Put your foot down and say no. It takes lot of courage to say no but its worth it.”
A third user added, “Indian parents favoring one child over another is a bitter truth. Deciding not to help is the right decision. If you care about maintaining a healthy relationship with your family, i would ask you to play safe and give reasons other than can’t support family, eg no job security, expecting layoffs etc.”
Echoing a similar sentiment, another person wrote, “Just say no. Even if the flat is on your name say no. It will be your brothers family living there so won’t be able to sell it if in future you require money. It will never be am asset for you. Invest the amount for your future. I think you have done enough. Now if you don’t set boundaries demands will not reduce.”
One commenter took a harsher stance, writing, “What you are missing is a spine. The thing that makes us vertebrates and the ability to stand up for ourselves. You are looking for thanks and gratitude where there is only entitlement and abusing people’s trust.”
August 01, 2026, 17:30 IST
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