Mohd Akram/Hyderabad

"I come from a respectable Haji family; circumstances around my life have made me face hardships. However, things have changed now,” says Saira Banu, who runs her business of food in the city.

It was 13 years ago when shecame to the city leaving behind her troublesome husband and in-laws with her five children and nothing, except some personal belonging, with her.

Today Saira Banu is an inspiration for women of Hyderabad. Saira Banu lives with her children in Malpura, Char Minar area of ​​Hyderabad city, is today running her business of preparing food for up to 1,000 persons per day.

Saira Banu says that "I came to Hyderabad from Bijapur in Karnataka in 2008. We had no means; Allah and my children were my biggest support.”

After reaching Hyderabad, she had no idea of what to do. She and her children faced starvation, homelessness and acute poverty. Saira admits she even had thoughts of ending her life to escape the hardships.

Saira Banu and her son

One day she picked a job.

When she came to Hyderabad, her youngest child was three months and the oldest one was 12. Today two of her children are supporting her business and are asking their mother to expand it.

Saira Banu says the idea of cooking and supplying food came to her while sitting outside a dargah. She immediately rented out a place and bought some utensils to start her business.

She started by supplying food to 50 persons each day.

Saira Banu cooks food and her children deliver it at homes and offices.

Hyderabad has a large number of professionals from outside who need home cooked food delivered.

Saira prepares food for young men and women who need her service and delivers it twice a day - in the afternoon and night.

Today, she continues to cook for 1,000 clients. She says orders are booked months in advance.

Apart from this, she has also started supplying biryani for special occasions like wedding and parties. Today Saira Banu has employed cooks. Her four children also work with her mother in the business.

Saira Banu had something to say to women in distress: “We should always remember that no matter what the situation is, we should never give up. One day the problems get solved. Keeping faith and continuing you efforts will make you successful one day.”