"Abida's world is a strip of cracked pavement along a busy four-lane road, surrounded by plastic-sheet shelters and dozens of other families who live there without walls or doors."
"People like us don't sleep. We just wait for the morning and pray nothing harms our children."
"Her few belongings, a torn blanket, an aluminium pot, a few utensils, and a bundle of spare clothes are stuffed into a dust-coated bag, which she places under her head at night to safeguard from thieves."
"Abida, now 40, grew up begging in the neighbourhood, and she lived with her mother, who died three years ago."
Abida Begum, a 40-year-old mother of three, lives on the streets of New Delhi beneath a flyover. Originally from Assam, she has faced a life of hardship since childhood. Abida's belongings are minimal, and she remains vigilant to protect her children from harm. Her life has been marked by poverty, harassment from authorities, and personal trauma, including an abusive marriage. Despite these challenges, she continues to care for her children, embodying resilience in a harsh environment.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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