Gorakhpur: At a tea stall in front of DDU Gorakhpur University, three sisters sell tea to fund their preparation for qualifying the civil services exam.Hailing from Maharajganj, Vartika, Vandita and Avantika Upadhyay run the tea and snacks stall, ‘Believer Bistro’, which, for them, provides means to continue their education and support their family.The family’s circumstances changed in 2017 when their father, Ram Sakal Upadhyay, was struck by paralysis. As medical expenses mounted, the sisters decided to shoulder the responsibility without giving up studies.About three months ago, they pooled Rs 8,000 to set up the tea stall near the university gate. Instant noodles were later added to the menu.Vartika (22) has completed her BSc and aspires to become an IAS officer. Her 21-year-old sister Vandita is preparing for IPS, while 19-year-old Avantika too hopes to qualify as an IAS officer.The stall operates from 7 am to 7 pm. Once the day’s business ends, the sisters begin their second shift — studying for competitive exams. They devote time to studies in the morning and again from 10 pm to 2 am, relying on books, notes, artificial intelligence tools and YouTube to clarify concepts and prepare for examinations.The sisters say working together makes it easier to manage business and studies. The earnings help meet their father’s medical expenses and household needs while allowing them to continue their education without depending on others.“Struggle has been part of our lives since childhood. Earlier, it felt difficult, but now we are used to it,” they said, expressing confidence that their efforts will eventually pay off.
