Late nights, early dreams: Three mothers who pass SSC against all odds

Nagpur: When the world wound down for the night and most homes were quiet, a few women opened their books instead of resting their tired feet. In a night school tucked away in the city, Priya Nonharkar, Rupali Jadhav, and Ketki Khapre decided to give themselves a second chance at education — and life.Priya Nonharkar, 33, is a mother of two. Life wasn't easy for her. She supported her husband during some of his toughest years, managing the house and kids while silently carrying the weight of responsibilities. Despite it all, she chose to study. "My school teachers really encouraged me. That helped me score well," she says with a proud smile. Now she's ready to take up commerce in class 11 and continue her journey. She studies at night, but her dreams are full of light.Rupali Jadhav, 34, scored 51.60% in her SSC exam. A full-time housewife, she juggles work for ten people in her home every day. But watching her sister-in-law study for exams lit a spark in her. "If she could do it, so could I," Rupali thought. With two sons and endless chores, she still found time to read, revise, and appear for the board exams. She plans to choose arts now and hopes to keep learning, slowly but surely.Ketki Khapre's story is no less inspiring. At 31, she scored 51% in her SSC exams. Years ago, when her husband was in a serious accident, she held the family together. For 3-4 years, she was his support system while also being a mother. Today, she works as a cook in different homes, does computer classes, and manages her family. "I want to do a job. I'm learning computers now," she says, her eyes full of hope.These are not just exam results; they are victories. These women didn't just study; they fought through exhaustion, doubt, and endless responsibilities to make room for themselves. Nagpur Night School, where all three studied, gave them a path, but it was their courage that carried them forward.Their stories remind us that it's never too late to learn, never too late to dream, and definitely never too late to start again.Nagpur: When the world wound down for the night and most homes were quiet, a few women opened their books instead of resting their tired feet. In a night school tucked away in the city, Priya Nonharkar, Rupali Jadhav, and Ketki Khapre decided to give themselves a second chance at education — and life.Priya Nonharkar, 33, is a mother of two. Life wasn't easy for her. She supported her husband during some of his toughest years, managing the house and kids while silently carrying the weight of responsibilities. Despite it all, she chose to study. "My school teachers really encouraged me. That helped me score well," she says with a proud smile. Now she's ready to take up commerce in class 11 and continue her journey. She studies at night, but her dreams are full of light.Rupali Jadhav, 34, scored 51.60% in her SSC exam. A full-time housewife, she juggles work for ten people in her home every day. But watching her sister-in-law study for exams lit a spark in her. "If she could do it, so could I," Rupali thought. With two sons and endless chores, she still found time to read, revise, and appear for the board exams. She plans to choose arts now and hopes to keep learning, slowly but surely.Ketki Khapre's story is no less inspiring. At 31, she scored 51% in her SSC exams. Years ago, when her husband was in a serious accident, she held the family together. For 3-4 years, she was his support system while also being a mother. Today, she works as a cook in different homes, does computer classes, and manages her family. "I want to do a job. I'm learning computers now," she says, her eyes full of hope.These are not just exam results; they are victories. These women didn't just study; they fought through exhaustion, doubt, and endless responsibilities to make room for themselves. Nagpur Night School, where all three studied, gave them a path, but it was their courage that carried them forward.Their stories remind us that it's never too late to learn, never too late to dream, and definitely never too late to start again.