“I started selling popcorn out of sheer compulsion. My father was a farmer in Nanded. We incurred major losses during my growing-up years so I did not want to continue farming. I decided to work in another city and my parents did not object either.

I came to Hyderabad 20 years ago, in search of work. Luckily, one of them who was from my village offered me a job in his shop. I worked with him for five years and he helped me set up this popcorn business. It’s not easy to stay away from family for so many years but I am doing it for survival.

Talking about my business, it’s not going very slow these days because of the ongoing pandemic. I had faced severe losses earlier too, but that didn’t deter me from moving forward. The same applies now. Will thinking about it and crying bring us anything? We will have to accept the situation and move on. That’s exactly what I am doing now. These are testing times for all of us and one must push to work harder and stay hopeful. Every day is a struggle and we will have to learn to rise above these storms. That’s what life is all about right?”