PARWATI Manilal shed tears yesterday as she talked about her past and the present.
For someone from her background, she said life was not easy at the Senior Citizens Home in Samabula, Suva.
Being a Gujarati, it is rare for someone like her to end up and spend the remaining days of her life in a home for senior citizens.
Ms Manilal, 70, said she has been a resident of the home for the past two years after being referred there by a doctor.
"I'm originally from India and I came to Fiji after getting married when I was 17 years old," she said.
"After my husband's death, I was running a sweets shop in Levuka and I also had my house there.
"I injured my leg and the doctor referred me to this home, maybe because there was no one living with me."
Ms Manilal said her son lived in New Zealand and her two daughters in England, all of whom are married with their own families.
"When I ended up in this home, my son came and sold the business and my house and took all the money with him.
"I don't get any money from him and only my daughters in England call me now and then and send me money.
"My daughters come and visit me at the home whenever they are in Fiji and I just spoke to them over the phone a short while ago."
Ms Manilal said her relatives who live in Fiji visit her sometimes but most of her time is spent with other female residents of the home.
She said while the company of other women was good, the one thing she did not like was the food.
"I'm a Gujarati and the food that is given to the residents here is not to my liking because I'm not used to it.
"I really miss the food I'm used to eating. I miss Levuka and if I get the opportunity to go back there now, then I will happily leave this place.
"I want to go back to Levuka but these people looking after the home are not sending me and I don't know why."