I moved to Mumbai in 2021 for university. I earned my bachelor’s degree this year and am now pursuing my master’s. My parents rent an apartment for me here and also give me a monthly allowance. I’ve told them I can get a job so I wouldn’t be a burden, but they refuse to let me work, whether part-time or full-time, saying I should focus entirely on my studies. In the summer of 2024, I met a much older man and we started dating. I moved into his house in December. Here’s the issue: my parents are still paying for the apartment and sending me money each month. I haven’t spent any of it since I started dating this man and have been saving it so I can eventually give it back to them. But if I tell them to stop sending money and paying rent, they’ll know something’s up, and I don’t want to tell them about my relationship because I know they’ll react badly. At the same time, I feel guilty because my parents aren’t wealthy enough for that money to be pocket change.
What is it that will make your parents happy? It sounds like nothing that you want will make them happy, so at some point you either need to do what they want and be miserable or do what fulfills you and let them handle their own misery. Secrets are not sustainable.
Caveat that most of the advice you’re going to get on here, including mine, will be from western countries.