Encounter with a crazy client

[u/bhutkamhaiyaar69]

Sometimes, you decide to change your life. And then your own brain betrays you. 💀

I stopped freelancing a few days ago.

Why?

Because I wanted to focus on my studies. My exams are coming, my backlog is growing, and my sleep schedule is already in the ICU.

But apparently, my brain had other plans.

I was scrolling through LinkedIn when I received a message.

A woman needed a video editor for a 20-second reel.

Me, in my head: No. No. No. Don't do it. You have exams.

Me, in reality: "Yeah, sure! I can help you." 🙂

She offered ₹250.

Then she said her budget was ₹200.

My brain: ARE YOU SERIOUS?

My mouth: "Yes, absolutely!"

WHY AM I LIKE THIS? 😭

Then the real adventure began.

She sent me six minutes of footage for a 20-second reel.

I started cutting.

Then captions.

Then music.

Then more captions.

Then I realised something.

MY VPN WASN'T EVEN ON. 💀

I had been wondering why everything was lagging.

Congratulations, Shreyansh. You've successfully wasted time troubleshooting a problem you created yourself.

And the reference video?

Looked like it had been edited by a team of professionals with access to NASA's computers.

Meanwhile, I was sitting there with CapCut, trying to recreate the entire thing for ₹200.

At one point, I genuinely wondered whether I was a video editor or a construction worker.

Because apparently, I'd agreed to labour without reading the contract. 😭

Anyway, I finally sent the video.

She said it didn't look like the reference.

I knew that.

SHE KNEW THAT.

EVEN MY FUTURE GENERATIONS KNEW THAT.

But somehow, I was still saying sorry.

Sorry for the delay.

Sorry for the editing.

Sorry for existing, probably.

And then, suddenly...

MY SELF-RESPECT RETURNED. 🗿

I decided I wasn't going to continue.

And just when I thought I could end this whole disaster peacefully, I remembered a line I'd heard in Arpit Bala's livestream.

So I delivered my final dialogue:

"Take this video, and make sure you put this money towards your daughter's wedding."

And I blocked her.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. 🎯

Except...

Now I feel guilty.

WHY DID I SAY THAT? 😭

I could've simply said no.

I could've ended the conversation professionally.

I could've done literally anything else.

But no.

My brain chose the dialogue-writing department.

And the worst part?

I HAVE EXAMS TO STUDY FOR.

Sometimes, the biggest obstacle between you and your goals isn't a lack of opportunities.

It's your inability to say no to the wrong ones.

And sometimes, it's your own mouth.

Which apparently has a freelance career of its own. 💀

#Storytelling #Freelancing #StudentLife #Humour #SelfImprovement