“I just want to go back,” says an Indian woman in Dublin, capturing the quiet heartbreak of missing a loved one’s wedding, a moment she calls the true cost of living abroad.Prachi Dusad, who has been living in Ireland for three years, shared a video on Instagram that went viral. In it, she reflects on how the realities of life overseas go far beyond financial expenses such as rent, bills and groceries.“A lot of people ask me what is the cost of living abroad, and it’s not just the rent, the bills, the groceries. I’ll tell you what, I am living in Ireland for three years now and right now it’s my cousin’s wedding in India and all of my family, my big fat Marwadi family, they’re all together. They are dancing, singing, enjoying, celebrating every moment and a lot of pictures and videos are coming on my family WhatsApp group,” she said.Dusad explained that watching those moments happen from afar has been deeply painful. “I am literally looking at every photo, every video multiple times and this kind of FOMO has not hit me in a very long time and I just want to go back. I just want to be with them, all of them there in that moment,” she added.She said that her absence was not due to financial constraints but rather the responsibilities and commitments she has built into her life abroad. “And it’s not just the money, I can definitely afford my flight tickets, but it’s the commitment, the life here, because of which I cannot go right now. And this, this exactly, is the cost of living here, living abroad,” she said.In the caption, Dusad spoke about the emotional side of living abroad. She said every decision has both good and bad parts. Some days feel positive, with growth and independence, while on other days she feels confused, misses home, and wonders about her choices.“Every decision you take comes with its own set of pros and cons. Some days, you see the brighter side, the growth, the independence, the life you’re building. And some days… nothing makes sense. You question your choices, you miss what you left behind, you wonder ‘what if.’ But that doesn’t mean you chose wrong. It just means you’re human. It’s okay to feel both, grateful for where you are, and homesick for where your heart still belongs.“
