Meet Anuradha Vohra — a single mother, a survivor, and a woman who rebuilt her life from zero

Anuradha’s story began with love. She had a happy marriage of 15 years, a life she cherished, and a family she thought she would grow old with. But in 2019, everything changed. She lost her husband at the age of 40, and in a single moment, the world she knew disappeared. She had been a homemaker all her life — gentle, loving, and dependent on her partner. Suddenly, she found herself standing alone, with a 10-year-old daughter who needed her more than ever.

The early days were the hardest. She remembers crying often, feeling fear in her bones, wondering how she would handle things she always believed her husband would be there for — even something as simple and emotional as her daughter growing up. But slowly, step by step, she picked herself up. She started taking “baby steps,” gathering courage she didn’t know she had.

Her first job came at 41 — a small role near her home, self-volunteered, not because she wanted to work but because she had to. Then in 2020, she joined an insurance company on compassionate grounds. That job became a turning point. It kept her busy, financially independent, and reminded her that even in the darkest moments, God had a plan.

A normal day for Anuradha isn’t easy. Every morning, she has to collect herself, remind herself that she has no choice but to keep going. She manages everything alone — finances, home, responsibilities, emotions — often feeling like she has to be “the male of the house.” There’s no shoulder to lean on, no one to say “rest, I’ll handle it.” But she continues, because her daughter needs her, and because giving up was never an option.

People often see her smiling, working, and moving through life with strength, but they don’t see the pain underneath. They don’t see the courage it takes to show up every day, to act happy when she is breaking inside. They don’t see the reality — that staying strong isn’t effortless; it is a battle she fights silently.

She has heard judgments, too: “You have to do it. You can’t give up. Who else will do it for your child?” Even when she gives her 100%, people expect more. But she keeps going, not because life is easy, but because her daughter is her strength. She often says her daughter has suffered even more — losing a father at 10 is a wound deeper than anyone can measure. And that thought pushes Anuradha forward every single time.

Over the years, she has changed. She has become practical, stronger, independent, empathetic, and far more resilient than she ever imagined. She wipes her own tears, comforts herself, and chooses to distance herself from anyone who doesn’t understand her pain. Being alone doesn’t scare her anymore — life taught her she can handle it.

Her dreams now are simple but powerful: to build a strong, loving bond with her daughter, to see her grow into a happy, strong, compassionate person, and to give her the beautiful life she deserves — the life both parents would have given her.

Even after all the hardships, she refuses to see herself as a “sorry figure.” In her words, 

“Why shouldn’t my daughter and I enjoy life? If her father left us, I will be her shield. I will give her the best I can.”

Today, Anuradha stands tall — not because she was never broken, but because she rebuilt herself from the ground up. A woman who lost everything but still gave her child a world full of love. A woman who learned to be both mother and father, who carries pain but walks with strength.

She is proof that courage is not loud. Sometimes, it looks like a mother waking up every day and choosing to fight for her child.

And that is who Anuradha Vohra is — strong, honest, brave, and still standing.

Written by Suhana Kapur, Grade 9, Shiv Nadar School, Gurgaon

Suhana wrote this article as a participant of the Media-Makers Fellowship's Nov'25 cohort.