“I started working from when I was 8. When father could not send me to school, I decided it was time I started doing something to support my family financially. So I started doing any work I could find. I moved in to the town to find something that paid more. Today, I am working as a cook in this tea shop. Every month I get my salary, I send it home to my parents. Things were okay but recently my brother fell off a tree while collecting wood and hurt his back. His medicines and hospitals bills were high so it was hard for me. But I kept working more hours and supporting my family. What can I do. I even thought of going to India to find work as a cook but nothing is certain. I am the eldest in the family and I worry about leaving my old parents and my brother behind with no one to look after them. But those are all sad stories, the good thing, I must say, is that I am here. And my family knows that as long as I am here, they will be fine and taken care of.” (Puran Saud, Mangalsen 3, Achham) ‪#‎StriveStruggleThrive‬