“I was two months pregnant when her father left home looking for work. I endured a lot during my pregnancy. There is no road to my village and it is several hours walk from the highway, so it was hard for my relatives to come assist me. I missed my husband very much. And I still do. He comes home every chance he gets but only for a very short time. My daughter is growing up very fast and I feel sad that my husband has missed out on this. But what can we do? There is no work for simple people like us at home and not much choice is left. Farming is difficult and the yields are less. Soon we will be needing money to provide for our daughter’s education. When my husband calls, I share with him my worries – of money and of raising a daughter alone. And he says, ‘Good days will come for us. I am doing all I can. We will be together soon. Don’t lose hope.’ And sometimes he says nothing.” (Riya Ale, Met her in Mugling, Chitwan)

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