While many of us are blessed with supportive fathers, not everyone is as lucky as we are. It is heartbreaking when the person who was supposed to take care of you and protect you from the cruel world, abandons you and leaves you to fight alone with this world.
Here is the inspiring story of one such daughter, whose father not only gave up on his fatherly responsibilities but also left her mother to raise her daughters alone. From discouraging his own daughters to insulting them for being girls, this girl’s father did everything to fail his daughters and his wife. But, these powerful and inspiring women refuse to give up on life. They fought their life circumstances and created a life that not only them but we are also proud of.
Here’s the inspiring story this brave daughter shared:
“When I was 5, dad left for a week for work, but didn’t come back for 6 months. We didn’t know how long to wait for him, so maa started stitching clothes for a living; Di and I helped. When dad finally returned, he resumed office as if nothing had happened.
But growing up, he never contributed at home. Maa paid for our education; we still don’t know what dad did with his salary, or if he even earned. Moreover, he’d keep doubting me and Di and say, ‘As girls, you’ll never be able to do anything.’ And we’d say, ‘Watch us.’
We got that fierceness from maa. I remember, I’d excelled in my 8th grade exams and asked dada for a 100 Rupee watch. He gave me 5 rupees and a kerchief; and gave my cousin the 100 Rupees and said, ‘Because he’s a boy!’ When I told maa, she bought me the watch and told me to go show it to him; to show him that women are worth it too!
Over time, Maa switched to selling LIC policies, but Di and I knew we had to start contributing too. So we’d embroider clothes and earn 2 Rupees– our pocket money.2 days after my boards, I got a job as a research marketer. 1 month later, I got my first salary– 2000 Rupees! I was so excited, I gave maa the cheque and told her, ‘Now, it’s my treat!’
Soon after I enrolled myself at dance classes– I loved dancing but we couldn’t afford them before. Bit by bit, I started paying telephone bills and buying groceries and saved the rest.
During the first year of graduation, I hosted events–it paid good money. So I’d wake up at 7:30, attend lectures till 1, work till 9, go to dance class and come back home by 12– I loved it!
I even started travelling for work. A few months before graduation, the 3 of us had saved enough to move out of our chawl. When we asked dad if he wanted to move with us, he said, ‘No’. Finally, it would be just us. Soon after, I got a full time job in sales at a cyber security company.
At work, I was questioned a lot as I was the only woman in the room. Once, my CEO asked, ‘Where do you see yourself in 2 years?’ I told him, ‘Running the international wing.’ He said I was too ambitious!
But guess what, 2 years later, that’s exactly what I’m doing! Last month, I even bought us a house! I’ve been saving for 4 years and managed to take out a loan–it’s high time we have a place we can call ‘home’.
Maa still works, but now she runs an NGO to empower victims of domestic abuse. Over the years, Di and I had promised ourselves that we wouldn’t take a single penny from her, and so far we haven’t. After everything she’s done for us, isn’t this the least she deserves? A house and next up, a world trip.”
At IFORHER, we are inspired by their courage and determination to not give up. Hope their story will give hope and courage to others who are struggling with their own battles.
Keep fighting and don’t give up till you turn your life into the one that you deserve.