India, Dec. 20 -- When Shantanu Gambhir first arrived in Gurugram in 2009, he was 18 years old and carried little more than a small suitcase, borrowed confidence and a restless ambition. The city, still shedding its identity as a satellite town and rapidly growing into a corporate powerhouse, appeared intimidating. Like many outsiders, Gambhir believed that shifting to the town would unlock direction. What he did not anticipate was how relentlessly the city would test him.

After brief stints in Delhi and Noida, he moved back to Gurugram in 2011. The early years, he said, were defined by uncertainty - unstable work, modest salaries and the daily struggle to stay afloat.

Over time, Gambhir began to understand the city's rhythm, he said. I...