Neetu

Neetu, 22 is a maid in a Chennai. Hailing from a small village in Tamil Nadu, Neetu has never seen her parents. She has always lived under the care and protection of some aunt or uncle. Her aunt, she says was a maid in Tamil Nadu when she made the decision to take away Neetu from her village. 'She thought I deserved a better life than she did. She didn't want me married by 18 and uneducated with two children' Neetu said. Her aunt, fought with the locals of the village and took Neetu away to give her a city education and exposure. Neetu passed her 12th standard exams and took up a job unable to put more pressure on her aunt and uncle who were bringing up their own two children. She worked at Lilliput and picked up English by going to the mall and typewriting classes. She now works in a household of influential people who care for her every need and are also educating her a little everyday about the world beyond. 'I haven't felt the need for blood parents, because I've been surrounded by kind souls who give me all the love and support that parents would give their children' She now is an earning member of that family that took her away many years ago. 

Anu

Anu, 33, is a social science teacher at a middle school and the mother of an 8 year old girl. Her mother, she tells me was a teacher as well, of Science.
'She wanted me to do IAS, I think..' she said. 'But you took her path?' I asked. 'Maybe it stuck with me somewhere, I saw the life she gave me, I wanted the same for my child' she said.
What does your daughter want to do?
'Well, I'd really like it if was to become a doctor.'
And what does she want to do?
'She loves dressing up and looking pretty, she's also really independent.. looks like she might go into the fashion industry. Modelling or Designing'
Were you ever interested in these things?
'I don't think I really had the choice because though my mother was liberal, she did all my shopping, told me what to wear, who to get married to and all of that. I think my daughter is more independent and more of an individual than I ever was.. or even am'
Can I take a photo of you for my reference?
'Oh Please No! I look terrible right now..
(at an after thought)
Looks like my daughter is rubbing off on me'

Rajeshwari

Rajeshwari, 43, Widow, and a mother of two daughters and a son is a business woman, like she calls herself. She speaks fairly amazing English for someone who has studied till the 7th grade. How did this happen I ask? My daughters both studied in English medium schools. One has finished her 12th and one is the 9th. I picked up English with them as they were studying. In Tindivanam, nobody will believe you if you tell them that you learnt English because of your daughters, she said. Married at 18, she is now the single bread winner for her family and wishes that her elder daughter will want to become an Engineer. I don't want to force her, she says, I will support her no matter what she decides; I didn't have that choice..
Meanwhile, a customer stops by. 'Yenna juice irruku?'
'We have mango and grape' she says in Perfect English 

Amudha

Amudha, 37, widow, mother of 3- two of whom committed suicide, is a fruit seller in Chennai. She looks at me fondly and says, my daughter, she looked just like you. Both of us are tearing up. 
Hailing from Villupuram, she has never studied, never seen the walls of a school and her only aim in life was to be a good housewife. She still wears her 'thaali' to work. 
She's educating her only child now, with the meager money she makes by selling small pomegranates and oranges. Travelling everyday in the sun just to make sure that her daughter doesn't ever face the plight that she has. She fills the space of the mother, father and siblings for her little girl. 
She hopes that her daughter will study hard and can someday buy the market where she buys her fruits from. She wouldn't mind a bigger shop as well, she says.