A mother-daughter duo from the western suburbs have been the talk of their locality for studying in the same school. While the mother, Gaushiya Shaikh, heads to her Std X classroom, the daughter, Zainab, skips off to the pre-primary section. And, when it comes to PTA meetings, Gaushiya attends Zainab’s, while her in-laws are present at hers.

Every afternoon, Gaushiya, who was married off at a very young age, steps out of her burqa into a school uniform, with two braids, and walks to the neighbouring school with Zainab. “At first, my in-laws were sceptical of this move, but now they, along with my husband, come to every PTA meet,” said Gaushiya, who proudly sports the class monitor badge as she strolls around the school premises.