“We may not be financially weak today but I cannot risk the future. Instead of waiting for the situation to get bad, I had to plan something. I realised that I will not save enough money by working as a teacher. Since I love cooking, I thought why not invest in it”- Urvashi Yadav.
It is indeed an unexpected sight to see a woman who lives in a Rs 3crore house and owns SUVs serve food at a roadside kiosk. Meet Urvashi Yadav, a 34-year-old former school teacher who sells ‘chole-kulche’ and ‘parantha’ in Sector 14 Market, Gurgaon or the newly christened ‘Gurugram.’ Her story is an inspiration for many and is an example of the utter determination possessed by a common man, which can raise him to the stature of extra-ordinary. It has been 45 days since she has started this kiosk and she admits for a woman “used to AC all day long” this sweltering heat and roadside traffic is a problem.
“I need to build a strong future for my family” she says as she takes charge of the house after her husband met with an accident and was advised a hip replacement by doctors. Amit Yadav, works as an executive for a leading construction company and on May 31, he feel in their house after which doctors advised a surgery for him and an earlier injury have rendered his chances of walking to very less. Urvashi, fearing a bleak future for her children decided to leave her job as a nursery teacher and rather pursue her passion for cooking. Even though her father-in-law who is a retired IAF wing commander, offered her help that she refused. “I do not want my children to change school due to a financial crunch,” she said. Her 12-year-old daughter Nandini studies in Blue Bells Public School and 7-year-old son Yatish is a student of American Montessori Public School in DLF Phase 2.
Her stall has become quite famous in the area and her customer base has increased after she got featured on a Facebook page ‘Soul Stirrings by Sunali’. Even though she admits that she never thought she will receive calls for help from women in similar situations and she never thought that her stall would last more than 15 days, she is happy with the response she has got till now. Starting her day at 8:30am she earns between Rs 2,500 to 3,000 a day and ends her day at 4:30pm.
Facing resistance from her family, she a graduate who speaks chaste English admits that the journey was not easy for her. She has to struggle as her family though the ‘business’ did noit match up to their status.“It is indeed a big change for a woman, who lives in AC all the time, to sell food on road. And definitely not easy for my family that owns a Mahindra Scorpio and Hyundai Creta,” Urvashi said.
She is the reason many bachelors in the area now have access to ‘ghar jaisa khaana’ which is affordable and hygienic. One comment on the page by Nirpesh Raj says that “finally he has place to eat” and how he is “truly inspired” by her courage.
He is not the only one as we all salute her for her brave decision and oodles of courage!
