“My husband and I moved from our village near Sargodha to Rawalpindi. We live in a rented room that fits two beds, and he works at a wholesale vegetable market while I sell hair accessories on the roadside in F-10. My daughter Aimen is three years old, so she comes with me because there is no one to take care of her at home.

I’m pregnant with my second child, but I’m happy during this pregnancy because I can visit an actual doctor at Pims. I delivered my first baby at home, with the help of the women in the family, because there were no doctors in our village.

We moved in search of better opportunities. It’s hard to make a living. Rents are high and food is expensive, but we are willing to struggle to provide a better life for our children. Sometimes, when we are here on an empty stomach, people feed us. Sometimes I eat. Sometimes I don’t have money for the both of us so I just buy my daughter food. Today it’s going to rain which, for me, means no sales. I don’t know how I will eat and pay the bus fare to get home. Every day comes with its own challenges, and they make me stronger.”

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2015

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