The scorching sun, passing traffic and swirling dust have become part of life for Monika Keivuluki.
Originally from Naivilaca in Rewa and now living in Vunisaleka, Narere, the roadside fruit seller has spent the past two years selling produce to support her family.
It was not a path she imagined for herself. Monika only reached Class Eight, growing up in a home burdened by poverty and instability.
“My parents did not enjoy a happy and stable marriage,” she says.
“That’s probably the reason why I didn’t go far in school.”
When financial hardship tightened its grip on her own household, she turned to roadside selling.
At first, the experience was difficult.
“I felt ashamed standing by the roadside, exposed to the dust, car fumes, the hot sun and the rain,” she recalls.
But shame soon gave way to purpose.
“I realised this is what I need to do so that my family survives.”
In her village, many women once relied on selling crabs and other mangrove catch for income.
Today, dwindling supplies and growing competition have forced many to find other ways to earn a living.
“Some work in restaurants and shops. Others sell produce. We do it all because we have to support our families.”
Despite the challenges, Monika refuses to surrender to circumstance.
“This is not my business. I sell for someone else who pays me. Nevertheless, every fruit sold is a step towards putting food on the table and paying the bills.”
Her stall may be visible only for a fleeting moment to passing motorists, but behind it she stands proudly, driven by spirited determination.
Monika believes that while struggle is real and often painful, it must be overcome so that brighter opportunities and better days can emerge.
