Hyderabad man’s ‘team lunch’ with house help, driver wins internet: ‘For heaven’s sake, this is 2026’
An ordinary lunch has turned into a major talking point about modern social etiquette and equality in 2026.
A Hyderabad man’s recent social media post about hosting a "team lunch" for his house help and driver has sparked a massive online discussion about India's deep-rooted class system. After sharing how difficult it was to convince his staff to break years of social conditioning and sit at his dining table for a simple meal of keema paratha, the post went viral.

“Once in a couple of months, I have a ‘team lunch’ with my staff, which is my driver and my maid,” wrote Hyderabad-based driving instructor and author Naresh.
Also Read: Viral video: Family surprises house help with air cooler. Her reaction is everything
He recalled how tough it was to get his house help and driver to agree to lunch with him. “Initially, they were so reluctant to sit at the dining table because of years of conditioning! This class system in India has to go.”
Expressing, For heaven's sake, this is 2026,” he also shared what dish they enjoyed together. “Simple meal of Keema paratha.”
What did social media say?
The post prompted a varied reactions on social media.
An individual shared, “This class system is what pushed people away to the other side…even now it exists all across the villages.” Another expressed, “I tried the same behaviour, but the conditioning is so deep they start taking advantage of the situations and consider you weak.”
A third commented, “So nice.” A fourth wrote, “Great”. An X user reacted to the post using clapping emoticons.
ABOUT THE AUTHORTrisha SenguptaTrisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.Read More

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