Punitha's mother, who works in a Satkriya member's house and other homes as a maid, works 18 hour shifts every day. Punitha's careless and unreliable father works as a part time laborer in the tile industry and is extremely wasteful of whatever little he earns. Not only is he a burden, but has absolutely no interest in taking care his family. Punitha's mother single-handedly works hard and supports all of them including her aging mother in law. Punitha, an intelligent child, is currently at risk of dropping out of school due to her family troubles.