Married at 14, Scam in Dubai & Then Built a 8-Property Portfolio! | Aarti's Story | Navratri Special

Summary

In this Navratri special, Aarti recounts how she rebuilt her life after childhood hardship, an early marriage, domestic abuse, and serious financial setbacks.

A Difficult Childhood

Aarti says her father drank heavily and abused her mother. She grew up amid frequent violence and arguments, experiences that she says still affect her. When Aarti was around three or four, her mother left the family home and raised her with help from Aarti’s grandmother, doing low-paid work to cover their expenses.

Marriage at 14

Aarti married while still a teenager and had hoped to continue her education. She says her husband opposed her studies and did not want her to become more successful than him. She describes being beaten and says his drinking and behaviour worsened after their son was born. When her child began noticing the violence, she decided she could not let him grow up in the same environment.

Separation, Divorce, and Pregnancy

Aarti left the marriage when her son was about three. During the divorce proceedings, she discovered she was pregnant. She recalls feeling overwhelmed and unsure she could manage another child, but her mother supported her through the pregnancy and delivery. Aarti says her husband’s family did not provide meaningful support. She considers leaving the marriage the right decision.

A Dubai Job Scam

After giving birth to her daughter, Aarti decided to seek work abroad. A woman she contacted online promised a two-year visa and a salon job. Aarti says she paid ₹1.5 lakh, followed by another ₹1 lakh, but arrived to find that the visa was for only two months and the promised salon work did not materialize. She lost her accommodation, struggled to find work, and eventually returned to India after roughly six months.

Aarti emphasizes that people considering overseas work should verify visa and job details rather than relying blindly on agents.

Starting Again

After seeing that her family’s home had been mortgaged to raise money for the move, Aarti returned to Dubai with some experience and a better understanding of the process. She worked as a cashier and later in a travel agency, where colleagues trained her. She says this helped her pay down debt and regain stability.

Building a Property Portfolio

A friend introduced Aarti to the idea of buying a flat and renting out rooms. She purchased a property in instalments and persisted through an initial period when she could not find tenants. She says she now owns eight flats in Dubai and has also bought a home in India for about ₹1 crore.

Aarti connects that achievement to an earlier promise to herself: to own a home so nobody could tell her to leave.

The host presents Aarti’s story as an example of resilience and persistence. Aarti stresses that her progress came through repeated setbacks, practical learning, and support from her mother and others.

Presenters and contributors: Tajinder Kalsi (host); Aarti (guest).