Every city hides stories of invisible courage. Amid crowded roads, traffic signals, and endless noise, there are people quietly fighting battles that rarely make headlines. In Kalyan, one such story belongs to 25-year-old Komal Dyandew Gaikwad — a mother who turned survival into strength after life abandoned her without warning.

Every morning at 6:30 am, Komal begins her day with her three-year-old daughter Tejaswi seated beside her in an autorickshaw. While the city slowly wakes up, the young mother is already on the road, determined to secure a better future for her child.

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Life Changed Overnight

Komal grew up in Parbhani and married at the age of 18. Like many young women, she left her studies after Class 10 and stepped into family responsibilities early. By 22, she became a mother. But soon after, her husband left her and never returned. Suddenly, Komal was left alone with a one-year-old daughter, no financial support, and no certainty about the future.

There were days when even arranging food became difficult. Yet instead of giving in to despair, she decided to fight back through hard work.

The Skill That Became Her Survival

Before leaving, her husband had taught her how to drive an autorickshaw. What once seemed like a basic life skill eventually became her only source of livelihood. When people refused to hire her for domestic work because she had a small child, Komal rented a rickshaw and began driving across Kalyan, Dombivli, and Thakurli.

The roads became both her workplace and her lifeline. Her journey is not filled with dramatic twists or miracles. It is built on exhausting routines, sacrifice, and persistence.

A Tiny Seat Beside the Driver

Komal’s biggest challenge was managing motherhood while earning a living. With nobody available to care for Tejaswi, she decided to keep her daughter with her while working. After saving money and taking a loan, she paid Rs 60,000 as a down payment to buy her own autorickshaw. Inside it, she created a small seat beside the driver’s chair for Tejaswi.

That small corner inside the auto reflects the reality of her struggle more than words ever could. Komal drives till noon, returns home to cook, and resumes work again from 4 pm until nearly 10 at night. There are no holidays, because missing even one day of work can affect the next meal. 

Carrying a Dream Bigger Than Hardship

Despite working nearly 16 hours daily, Komal earns only around Rs 400 to Rs 500 a day. A large part of that goes toward rent and the EMI for her autorickshaw. Still, she remains focused on one goal — education for her daughter.

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Recently, she enrolled Tejaswi in school, a moment that symbolised hope after years of struggle. Komal now dreams of seeing her daughter become an IPS officer someday. Her story resonates because it reflects a quiet form of resilience often overlooked in everyday life — a mother refusing to let circumstances decide her child’s future.