“Kids chat with me like we are close friends from a long time. It makes me happy to know that I am part of so many young people’s lives.

Almost 15 years ago, when I was just a teenager, I moved to Hyderabad from my hometown in Maharashtra to earn a living. I have studied only till class 3 and when I see young boys and girls, I sometimes sit and wonder how my life could have been and where it has taken me now. I lost my father at a young age due to paralysis and being the eldest in the family, I had no choice but to take over the family responsibilities.

I had a difficult childhood, doing odd jobs for close to two decades. Had I been exposed to better things in life, maybe my life would have been different.”