She endured a tough life, with grit!

Well, I am not sure whether this is a quintessentially Mardaani story. But I certainly feel so. This is about someone whom I have come across during my childhood in Kerala. We had this lady, Shyamla, who worked as a domestic help in my home. Once I came to know about her story from my mother, which goes like this ....

Shyamla's day started roughly around 4 am in the morning. It started with cooking for her girls, the elder one (Shalini) being physically and mentally challenged. Having separated (not divorced, it's Kerala in early 90s) from her abusive and alcoholic husband years ago, the children were her responsibility. She set out to help my family by 6 and stayed until 10. By the time her younger daughter (Sanju) must've gotten ready for school, she'd reach home to be with Shalini. No, she didn't sit idle until Sanju returned. She had enrolled herself in a candle-making factory which enabled her to make them at home and later sell them herself. Post 5 pm, she worked in one of the busiest restaurants in our town and worked until 10 pm. After returning home, she'd listen to Sanju's gossip from school and what not!

The reason why I feel her to be Mardaani is because she never complained or cursed her life for whatever she was doing to make ends meet. She was a fighter and was determined that she'll provide the best possible education for Sanju and proper medication for Shalini. Plus, she didn't miss the presence of a man in her life. Recently when I met her after a gap of 17 years, I learnt that she was pretty much living a similar life. Just that Sanju is now happily married and their jovial son-in-law has brought the much-required smiles to their lives.

This is written as a part of I am Mardaani activity exclusively at BlogAdda.com for Indian Bloggers.