Source: Humans of Bombay

“I got married at the age of 21 to the man I really loved. At 24, my son was born and I felt like our family was complete. I knew my husband used to drink occasionally, but overtime that increased to everyday till the point where he couldn’t work because he was under that alcohol influence.

We tried really hard to get him out of it but it didn’t work. At that point, my priority was my son and to ensure that none of this affected him. I would take science classes at 7 in the morning, go to school all day till 4 and then work again at a third job – only to return home by 10 at night.

All this in addition to cooking and managing the house because I couldn’t afford the help. There came a time when I was tutoring over 150 students – and I never complained.

In 2006, my husband passed away. I feel sorry more than anything else, because he was such a nice man and I really loved him.

So many people told me to remarry and send my son to a boarding school but that thought never even crossed my mind. I’m the mother – he’s my flesh and blood and he will always be my biggest priority.”