A Life Lost to Burnout

In the air-conditioned soul-crushing expanse of a multinational office in Pune India , the hum of computers drowns out the quiet cries of exhaustion.  From the outside it appears to be going through the motions - emails zapping back and forth, meetings dragging out, deadlines hanging ominously like premonition clouds on a grey skyline.

Yet, in the shadows of these glass walls, something far more dangerous festers. At the age of 26, a bright soul and an ambitious girl who once thought that she would make a niche for herself in the corporate world had to wrap her breath taking dreams with hollow white papers labelled above all — work pressure.

Her name was Anna Sebastian Perayil, an Ernst & Young (EY) worker with a bright career ahead of her. Before long, an unforgiving job crushed her alive, and all that was left were mourning friends and family and a powerful reminder of how much unchecked ambition can take from you.

Deadlines shouldn’t be a matter of life and death

We are conditioned in advance to think that hard work is the way to success and status, right? Put in the hours, aspire to greater heights, and maybe one day you’ll nibble on that unattainable piece of fruit — happiness (success). However, what happens when the work itself is wolf in sheep skin.

Anna’s death isn't just an isolated incident. It is indicative of a broader, societal problem with the toxic working environments which shame rest as weakness and 80 hour work weeks as the standard.

This tragedy begs the question: What is the real cost of corporate success? We see the sheen of promotions, bonuses, and five-star client dinners, but rarely do we confront the crushing weight that many endure behind the scenes.

Grind culture: The creativity killer!

Imagine for a moment—what does corporate stress smell like? Perhaps the staleness of air-conditioned rooms, untouched lunchboxes, and forgotten coffee cups, cold as the steel desks they sit on. What does it feel like? The tight knot in the stomach as emails pile up, the throb of tension between your eyes, the cold sweat of fear before a meeting where nothing you do will ever be good enough.

What does it taste like? The metallic bitterness of energy drinks gulped in place of sleep, the acrid flavor of exhaustion coating your tongue. And what does it sound like? The endless tapping of keyboards, the sharp ding of a calendar alert reminding you of yet another deadline. Finally, what does it look like? Eyes dark with fatigue, faces drained of joy, and the harsh glow of blue screens reflecting in pupils that never seem to close.

This is the reality of toxic work cultures: a war on the senses, a slow, steady erosion of what it means to be alive.

Invisible chains, but the weight is all too real.

Workplaces are supposed to be a place of growth and learning. Instead, for many, they have become PRESSURE COOKERS! Toxic bosses, under the guise of leadership, exploit their employees' need for approval, often belittling or dismissing the signs of burnout. Stress becomes a badge of honor. Skipping meals is “dedication.” Taking work home or punching out late without extra remuneration is “commitment.”

But let’s be clear: this IS NOT just about long hours. Toxic work environments manifest in more insidious ways—unrealistic expectations, constant surveillance, and emotional manipulation. Workers like Anna are seen as resources, not humans. Human bodies and minds aren’t built to run like machines, but we’ve been conditioned to believe otherwise. The modern corporate space treats people as gears in a vast, mindless apparatus, turning until they break.

Health is not an option—it’s a necessity

Health should never be an afterthought. Anna’s passing is a grim reminder of this truth. It is tempting to believe we can postpone self-care, that we can make up for sleepless nights with a weekend off, or that we can ignore that nagging pain in our chest for just one more week. But the body always remembers, even when we forget.

In our relentless pursuit of achievement, we’ve allowed work to invade every corner of our lives. We wear exhaustion like a badge, ignoring that our bodies are crying out for mercy. But health is not a reward; it’s the foundation. Without it, everything crumbles.

Let’s replace pressure with progress

This isn’t a problem confined to one company, one industry, or even one country. It’s everywhere, seeping into our daily lives, eroding our sense of self-worth. The change must start now. Bosses must be held accountable for the environments they create. Workplaces need to prioritise human well-being over profit margins. Burnout isn’t a personal failure; it’s a societal one…a human one!

Employees need the space to breathe, to rest, and to disconnect. Health isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Without it, we risk losing more than just productivity. We risk losing ourselves.

Anna’s story should never have been written. Her death is a tragedy that could have been prevented. Let it be a wake-up call to all of us: the relentless grind isn’t worth it if the cost is life itself.

MAHOOR HAYA SHAH, a writer and editor from Srinagar with a Master's degree in English Literature and Linguistics and Bachelors in Psychology