“22 तक पढ़ाई, 25 पे नौकरी, 26 पे छोकरी, 30 पे बच्चे, 60 पे रिटायरमेंट, और फिर मौत का इंतजार!”
Yeah, you got it right. Bunny said this to showcase his perspective towards what he wanted from life. However, in India, there are regions where many people don’t have a say in when a person (rather, a kid) gets married. Because in India, Shaadi is the ultimate destination where you have to reach. and that too jitni jaldi ho jaaye utna acha.
This is what happened with Neeta. She was married at 14 years old and gave birth to her first child at 15 years of age.
Right, when most of the girls are doing their matriculation, she was occupied with the heavy responsibilities of family and household chores. Not only this, but she was subjected to an abusive marriage, where soon she was a mother of 3, and had to tolerate everything in silence, because, bacho ka kya hoga.
Early Life and Background
Neeta was an unwanted child, and her mother committed suicide when she was 6 years old. Her maternal grandparents thought it better than leaving her with her alcoholic father.
They took her under their care and, eventually, when she was 14 years old, married her off to a 22-year-old police officer. Who was not very fond of her either.
Maharashtra-based Neeta stayed in her toxic marriage for her children because, being uneducated, she feared what she could do to raise them. However, she always yearned to become self-dependent and to break free.
A Supportive Wife but Not Valued
After 20 years, when she was 34 years old, her husband went broke. They had to live in the slums, but there she learned to drive scooter. Realizing her potential and the opportunity available in the market, she decided to take the initiative and do something on her own: to turn her scooter riding skills into a means of livelihood. It was not because she wanted to, but she did so to support her husband.
But then also, instead of encouraging her and valuing her brave decision, her husband said, “Tumse kuch nahi ho sakta.”
Bravo 👏🏼
However, all these insulting taunts only strengthened her will to stand on her feet. Neeta started a pick and drop service for school kids. This is a male-dominated job in India (I guess everywhere), and they saw her as a potential threat.
The male majority talked her husband into it, and he, in turn, as usual, threatened to kill her. What now?
She had already grasped the idea that she is capable of earning, and with the support of her kids, and after this threat from her husband, Neeta decided to finally end her marriage.
Brave!
It is not an easy thing to do in India, that too in rural India, where a close-knit society is ready to taunt you till you are alive. However, as the saying goes, ab bas ho gai, so that was it.
Challenges Along the Way
Obviously, the rural society is not welcoming towards a divorced lady, and that too, who took the divorce instead of being left by her husband. But Neeta was not ready to give up, after all, she just stepped out of her cage.
She decided to educate herself along with her kids. All this happened 8 years ago, and today, Neeta is the owner of 13 buses and the founder of Shree Neeta Buses.
Although her journey was full of obstacles but she learned with every experience. It was not easy, but I didn’t miss the final opportunity to break free from that so-called samaj me izzat dilane wali shadi. She proved that others’ opinions do not define us; our actions do.
Slowly, she grew her business Shri Neeta Buses from 1 bus to 13-bus fleet.
About Neeta Travels
The company has become a well-known bus operator in Maharashtra, India, but operates effectively in Pune, Lonavala, and Shirdi, along with various locations both within and beyond Maharashtra. Neeta Travels has an extensive fleet of buses, featuring luxurious Volvo options, and operates across multiple Indian states.
They provide various bus types such as AC Sleeper, Non-AC Seater, and AC Seater, with fares starting at ₹410. Their services cover many routes, including popular ones like Mumbai to Pune, Lonavala, and Shirdi.
Neeta Travels really focuses on making the journey comfy and stress-free. Their seats are nice, and they have plenty of amenities to keep the passengers happy during the travel.
They also give a ton of options for bus timings and how long the trips take. You can pick a schedule that works best for you. Plus, their bus tickets are reasonably priced, so there’s something for everyone, no matter the budget.
Neeta Travels is available on various online platforms like redBus, MakeMyTrip, and AbhiBus.
Neeta’s struggle and hard work paid off with her kids being highly educated in universities abroad. Her son is settled in Canada while her daughters (both) are well-educated and supports her. Moreover, Neeta is, herself, giving back to the society through Shri Neeta Foundation. She can never forget what she faced, but she is dedicated towards making things better for the future. In the end, this is what matters.
