Mid-Day Sunshine story | Meet this single mother who drives an auto-rickshaw for her daughter’s bright future

In a world where many surrender to minor inconveniences a 25yearold woman from Kalyan is quietly rewriting the meaning of resilience Meet Komal Dyandew Gaikwadmdasha single mother an autorickshaw driver and above all a symbol of unbreakable determinationKomal Gaikwad with her 3yearold daughter Tejaswi PicTarun VermaGaikwadrsquos story is not just about survival mdashit is about courage shaped by sacrifice in extremely difficult circumstances Married at the age of 18 Gaikwad became a mother by 22 in 2023 The next year her life took a harsh turn when her husband left her and returned to his hometown in Parbhani never to come back Left alone with her oneyearold daughter Tejaswi Komal found herself staring at an uncertain futuremdashempty pockets unpaid bills and days that sometimes passed without foodBut giving up was never an optionldquoI told myselfmdashthis should not happen to my daughterrdquo Gaikwad recalls her voice steady yet heavy with emotionThe same year she made a lifechanging decision With no prior professional experience and very little support Gaikwad rented an autorickshawKomal 25 pays Rs 6500 EMI for her new auto PicTarun VermaldquoMy husband had taught me how to drive a rickshaw but it wasnrsquot to earn a living out of itrdquo she statedldquoHe taught me how to drive so that I could take my daughter to school when he was not around However I didnrsquot know at the time that one day this skill would be my only source of earning a livingrdquo Gaikwad saidlsquoNot without my daughterrsquoTo get things started Gaikwad got a rickshaw on rent and earn a livingldquoI rented a rickshaw not because I wanted to drive but because no one was willing to hire me as a domestic help because my daughter was only a year old then So driving a rickshaw became my only optionrdquo said GaikwadHowever her biggest challenge wasnrsquot driving through the bustling lanes of Kalyan Dombivli and Thakurli it was juggling motherhood alongside workChallenging taskWith no one to look after Tejaswi Gaikwad within a few months took out a loan and got herself a new auto designed to accommodate her daughter by her side ldquoWithin months through sheer grit I managed to save enough to pay a down payment of Rs 60000 and bought a new rickshaw so that I could take care of my daughter even while workingrdquo Gaikwad said The vehicle has a small dedicated and ldquocomfortablerdquo seat beside the driverrsquos seatKomal installed a dedicated seat in her autorickshaw that accommodates her 3yearold daughter PicTarun VermaWith no one else to look after her oneandahalfyearold Tejaswi needed to be close to her mother That is when Gaikwad came up with a solution that reflects both a motherrsquos love and a survivorrsquos instinctIn a few months she took a loan and got herself a new rickshaw designed to accommodate her daughter by her sideWhere there is a will there is a wayldquoWithin months through sheer grit I managed to save enough to pay a down payment of Rs 60000 and bought a new rickshaw so that I could take care of my daughter even when Irsquom working Gaikwad statedThe vehicle now has a small dedicated and ldquocomfortablerdquo seat right beside her in the rickshaw Today as Gaikwad navigates through traffic her daughter rides alongmdashsafe close and always within her sight Her day begins at 630 am with Tejaswirsquos breakfast packed and placed on that very seatKomal drives between Kalyan and Thane with her daughter aside PicTarun VermaGaikwad drives until the afternoon returns home to cook and then heads back on the road by 4 pm working tirelessly until 10 pm There are no weekends no breaks just an endless cycle of responsibility driven out of responsibilities driven by duties that cannot be overlooked at any costDespite working nearly 16 hours a day Gaikwad manages to earn only around Rs 400ndash500 every day which is barely enough to cover the Rs 2500 rent of her modest home in Kalyan East and a Rs 6500 monthly EMI for her rickshawDespite these adversities the Parbhaniborn woman does not complain All she wants is for her daughter to get the best educationWhen asked if she ever feels exhausted Gaikwadrsquos voice trembles a little but her resolve remains firm ldquoIf I donrsquot work even for a single day there wonrsquot be food on our table the next dayrdquoI want my daughter to become an IPS officerDealing with her lifersquos trials and tribulations Gaikwad continues to push forward every daymdashnot for herself but for her daughterrsquos future Recently she enrolled Tejaswi in a local school taking yet another step towards a dream she holds close to her heartldquoMy dream is to see my daughter become an IPS officerrdquo she says her eyes reflecting both hope and determinationIn the chaotic rhythm of city life Gaikwadrsquos rickshaw is more than just a vehicle it is a moving testament to a motherrsquos love a womanrsquos strength and a dream that refuses to slow downHer journey reminds us that true inspiration doesnrsquot come from comfort it rises from courage determination and the will that move us ahead even during the toughest timesDaily schedulegtgt Day begins at 630 amgtgt Drives until noon then returns home to cookgtgt Heads back onto the road by 4 pmgtgt Works till 10 pmgtgt Doesnrsquot take weekend breaksgtgt Manages to earn Rs 400Rs 500 dailygtgt Pays Rs 2500 in monthly rent for accommodation in Kalyan Eastgtgt Pays Rs 6500 as EMI for rickshaw