A video of a Bengaluru resident, Priya Pal capturing herself checking into a hotel next to her house simply to escape Bengaluru's intense heat during summer, has ignited a debate online.
As temperatures in the city gradually rise in April, with the Bengaluru-City station recording maximum temperatures around 35°C-36°C and minimum temperatures around 23°C-24°C (according to IMD reports), the residents are seeking relief from the sweltering heat.
In an attempt to beat the city's heat, Instagram user Priya Pal, shared an unusual way to enjoy her weekend indoors.
The video opens with the overlaid text, "We booked a hotel next our house only for this in Bangalore," showing her checking into a nearby hotel with companion Mishka Pal to enjoy air conditioning for the day, concluding with a focus on the AC unit.
The video went viral, racking up more than 85,000 likes and over 400 comments while dividing the internet into a debate over her financial decision.
"So, you booked a hotel room with AC but cannot afford to buy a new AC? Why is that?" one comment read, alongside others that read "Buying or renting an AC would be much better. How many days will you stay in a hotel? Bad financial decision," and "This is called an average mentality with no financial planning. Not sure why people are not ready to invest in basics. Now, AC is just a basic thing and not a luxury."
Amid the backlash, Instagram user Ishita Khemaria defended the author in the comment section saying "obviously cannot just buy an AC as tenants."
"The owner should have provided one. If they buy, they need the owner's permission to drill a hole for a split AC. If they shift, it's just an extra expense of moving the AC. For a day, a hotel room is a better option," she wrote.
Later, the author Priya Pal made a clarification in the comment section regarding her choice to rent a hotel.
"Relax. It was booked for just one day because, as mentioned in many comments, Saturday was extremely hot for us, and we started falling sick. We booked a cooler, but it is taking a day or two to get delivered. So, we booked a room instead of going to a fancy restaurant and having expensive coffee. Also, it's a Sunday, so no office," she wrote.