I got married at seventeen even though I wanted to continue my education. Luckily, my husband was supportive of my passion for studying. So, I was gifted a few more years with my books. But even though my husband cares for me a lot, life after marriage is tough. The responsibility of coping with others and meeting their expectations overweighs almost everything. So, after some time, I lost my enthusiasm too. When things got more challenging in lockdown with my husband losing his job, we struggled to continue our son’s education. They asked for twenty thousand rupees even for online education. So we decided to provide him with the tuition only besides teaching him at home. He dreams of fighting for his country when he grows up with “dhiskyaoon” (that’s what he calls his gun) and fulfills his father’s lost dream. I want to do everything to support him. Through Refresh, I want to excel in stitching, something I’ve been passionate about all along, and secure a better life devoid of poverty for my child, a life that allows him to become what he wants to.

– Preeti