India, May 16 -- It's just a bit of data. Employers, landlords, clinics, even those sketchy guys running adventure sports need to know whom to call in case you need medical assistance on their watch. There's no law governing who an Indian citizen can list in this field. But both public and private companies tend to insist on a parent, spouse or blood relative. Here's where it gets thorny: As more of us live away from home, the most reliable port of call is more often a friend, a mentor, an LGBTQ+ ally, a neighbour, perhaps even that nice guy from five Hinge dates ago who became a Platonic buddy. It's a matter of life and death, not bureaucracy. Who's going to explain this to the authorities?

Last year, Ahana Singh, 27, working the night ...