"She is my granddaughter. I have looked after her since she was 9 months old. I am her mother and I am her father. 'What happened?', you will ask. My daughter became a widow not long after marriage. It must have been her bad fate. Without a husband, she might have felt lonely. She found another man who was willing to love her and give her company. So she eloped with him. When she did, she left her daughter with me. She came to me and pleaded. "Mother, please raise your granddaughter for I am worried. I am worried that she might not be loved in my new home. I am worried about hardship coming her way. Here, I know you will give her food and affection." I have a tender heart and seeing her plea with tears, I could not deny her request. And we both agreed that she was better off staying with me.
But I have my own problems at home. One more infant in the household added to the financial burden. Whatever our plight, I have done what I could as any human being would do. Even though she did not get her share of mother's milk, I bought milk from the dairy and fed her. Sometimes I collected buffalo milk from the neighborhood. And it was not easy even though I have enough experience raising children. I have 2 children that I bore myself. I would not want any less for my granddaughter. So her well being has always been my concern. How am I going to send her to school? How am I going to ensure she has a bright future? Is she going to ask me questions when she grows up, that I will not be able to answer? These things have always worried me. So everything I do, I do extra for her. More than I do for my own children. And now she is growing up and I am happy that she is healthy. I am happy that she is going to Kopila Valley School. A good education for her is all I have ever wanted. For us poor people, there is no escaping struggle. It comes and you endure. So some happiness is a big thing. I have hopes that she will have a happy life and a good future."
