Naimunnissa, a woman who had had no clue how her destiny will shape after her husband, the sole bread earner for the family of four, died of a heart attack in October 2015. With a young daughter (20) and son (16) then, barely ninth-passed Naimunnissa was entirely clueless and had no idea how she will overcome the challenges life had thrown her way.
Applying for job wasn’t an option considering her insubstantial educational background. But then, she had to feed her kids and bear the educational expenses in absence of their father. Despite all odds, how this single mother overcame the challenges and created her own path is truly inspiring.
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In an overcrowded lane of Munirka in Delhi, Naimunnissa runs a small makeshift shop of south Indian food. It takes her the entire day to prepare dishes which she sells from 5pm onwards. She doesn’t even have a fully equipped shop. She uses the front gate of the building, she resides in, to run her small business.
With sheer dedication, proper hygiene and taste that are hard to find at any other shop in Munirka, there was no looking back for Naimunnissa. Her business runs well and one can always witness a queue of people patiently standing to have ‘Garmagaram’ Pakode, Aloo Bonda, Dosa, and Vada at her shop.
“Things shaped in a way that I had to start this. I started this shop when my husband was ill. Munirka is full of north-east people and I thought it would be an apt idea to start my own shop. There are many shops here as you can see but the difference I try to maintain is – I want them to feel like they are eating ‘Ghar Ka Khaana.’ I maintain proper hygiene. Wash vegetable properly before preparing any dish,” says Naimunnissa.
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Now, her 22-year-old daughter Sajna who has completed her graduation also lends a helping hand. Naimunnissa’s 18-year-old son Taufiq is studying in class XII currently.
Naimunnissa came to Delhi in 1999 from Tamil Nadu. Her husband was working in the city as a manager in a courier company.
The UnDelhiwalah is an exclusive series wherein Newsd delves into the relationship of the citizenry thriving and surviving in this cosmopolitan city.
