"In the one-horse town of Marikavalasa in India's eastern coastal state of Andhra Pradesh, I spent an afternoon interviewing working women on the main street. Patterns emerged: The women, clad in neat saris, sat before tidy stalls made of rescued plywood and propped up by a few bricks. The women would agree to chat, or be interviewed, but they'd excuse themselves briskly. There was a trade to be done, an eggplant to sell, colorful bangles, a devotional lamp."
"They patiently explained they had to repay their dues to stay in good standing in their community. But as dusk settled, the smell of pan-fried flat bread wafted over the road, and some of these women allowed themselves a little luxury: an evening snack at a brightly lit stall selling small tiffins a traditional Indian lunch-box meal, usually composed of flat bread, rice, vegetables in a spicy gravy and a pickle."
In Marikavalasa, a small one-horse town in Andhra Pradesh, working women sit on the main street in neat saris behind tidy stalls made of rescued plywood propped up by bricks. The women agree to talk but often excuse themselves quickly because they must carry on trading—selling eggplant, colorful bangles, and devotional lamps. Many women carry debts to neighbors to pay for medical care or school fees and repay dues to maintain community standing. As dusk falls, the smell of pan-fried flat bread and the glow of a brightly lit stall offering small tiffins provide a small luxury. The evening snack offers banter, relaxation, and a brief respite before resuming work.
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