Some women become single mothers by choice while some are forced into becoming single mothers due to circumstances. The later scenario became the case for Mrs Duru.
Mrs Duru suddenly became a single mother of two kids in her late 20's, she never thought that such tragedy would befall her at this time of her life. She had just lost her husband to the cold hands of death in a ghastly motor accident few weeks after she got admission into a private university to further her education.
Her late husband has been her strong support system in her journey to getting her doctorate degree in her field of study. He had a good paying job that sustained the needs of the family and so he made life very stress free for his wife, he made sure she focused on taking care of the kids and facing her studies alone with no business or a 9-5 job. Life became so unbearable for her and her kids as a result of this big blow, the properties they had were all taken away from them by her late husband's kinsmen and they were left with nothing.
As she stared at her late husband's picture frame in her hands, tears rolled down her cheeks. She remembered the good old days with her dear husband, how problems were solved without hesitation and how she needed not to worry because her husband was always there for them. And now she is left with such a huge responsibility to see herself and her kids through school. Where am I going to start? How will I get the financial support to take care of my responsibility? She asked rhetorically in tears!
She applied for several jobs and was interviewed for few but none of the interviews gave her the job she wanted. School resumption was fast approaching and her school's registration procedures for the newly admitted was almost coming to an end. She thought of other methods that she could use to raise money to solve her needs and none came to her mind. She was so devastated about the whole situation.
Later on, she decided to start somewhere and anyhow. She started by selling all her expensive wrappers, clothes and jewelries. She never loved the idea of doing this because she adored her belongings so much but she went ahead to sell them regardless. She sold her expensive clothes and jewelries at loss just to at least raise some money, after the whole sales, she was able to raise a reasonable amount for her children's school fees and little was left for her registration.
Since she couldn't raise the remaining money for her registration, she decided to use it to start a menial job that could support her. She has been a very good cook right from her adolescent times, so she made plans to make good use of it by starting a local restaurant since no job was coming forth. She found a good location and started, at first the business didn't thrive well at all, the weather condition wasn't favorable as she started during the rainy season, she was also harassed many times by the local government officials who come to collect dues, on occasions when she didn't have her dues, her food was being thrown away by these officials and her kitchen utensils siezed. She really felt her husband's demise so much during these times and wished all was just a dream.
She pushed so hard regardless of all the challenges she faced with her business. Sometimes, she went as far as hawking the food on the highway whenever she lacked customers so as to make sales for the day to get money for her children's fees and for their upkeep as well.
She continued and never gave up and after few years, her luck began to shine. She became the best food vendor in her town and also supplied food daily to principal staff in big organizations, this made much income more than she ever imagined. Furthermore she got some catering contracts for big events which in turn fetched her more customers, she would always gaze at her late husband's picture and smile at him each time she made it in her catering business, telling him stories of how far she has come.
Well well! with the money she made from her business she was able to take good care of her children and their school fees from their primary, secondary and university level. She expanded her local restaurant to a modern restaurant and her customers never missed patronizing her. Mrs Duru who single handedly managed her business from start employed so many staff that works for her. Wow! how amazing! she giggled..
Her dreams of becoming a professor never died, she still had that in plan. I have fought the good fight! My two sons have finally graduated from the university! I have more than enough to take care of them and also take care of my education as well.. She thought!
A new academic session in her choice private university came and she applied for her PHD program and finally got the admission. She paid her registration fees and other subsequent fees that came up with ease. Within 4 years, Mrs Duru graduated and earned the doctorate degree she has long anticipated to have. Her two children made her very proud by getting a scholarship to further their studies in the US. Indeed! she succeeded because of her determination and a resilient spirit and it sure paid off.
This is my entry to the week12 edition02 of the contest organized 
