“People ask me if I ever feel lonely. I tell them work does not let loneliness stay around for long.
My name is Jaiyamma. I am 55 years old, and for the last 30 years, I have been making a life on my own.

My husband passed away in a tragic accident when our children were still very small. Overnight, I went from being a wife to carrying the weight of raising a son and a daughter all by myself. It was terrifying, but giving up was never an option. Even as a young woman, I believed that a person should always stand on their own feet. That belief became my anchor when life turned upside down.

I started selling seasonal produce to keep us going. During the monsoon, I sit by the roadside roasting fresh corn over coals. The smell of charcoal and sweet corn brings people in, and on rainy evenings, I barely get a second to rest. In other seasons, I sell seasonal fruits and leafy greens, adapting to whatever the land offers. This year, the rains have been delayed, so work has been a bit quiet. But worrying has never filled a stomach. I wake up, set up my baskets, offer a small prayer, and keep going.

Today, my son runs his own catering business. My grandchildren are pursuing higher education, and one of them is already working. My daughter is settled with her family in another village. I could never complete my own education because of financial struggles, but my dream was always to give them the opportunities I never had. Seeing them step forward into the world makes every single sacrifice worth it.

We do not get to meet as often as I would like since everyone lives in different places. But we talk on the phone every day, and whenever holidays or festivals arrive, they all come home. That is when the house feels truly alive again with their laughter and noise.
When people ask how I managed all these years alone, I tell them that when life puts weight on your shoulders, it also gives you the strength to carry it.

My biggest dream is to see my grandchildren reach heights I could only imagine. Until then, you will find me right here, roasting corn with a smile, grateful for every new morning and every person who stops by for a bite.”