She Sat Sad & Humiliated in The Shelter, Sobbing, Wishing For a Full Meal…
The cold, dimly lit shelter felt like a cage. The air smelled of old, recycled warmth mixed with the faint scent of cleaning products that couldn’t fully erase the feeling of neglect. She sat in the corner, her knees pulled up to her chest, arms wrapped tightly around her legs. The rough fabric of the shelter’s thin blankets didn’t comfort her; instead, it felt like an additional reminder of how far she had fallen.
Her name was Emily, but here in the shelter, she wasn’t a person anymore. She was just another face in a sea of forgotten souls. Her stomach growled, a constant reminder of how empty she felt. The thought of food made her lips quiver as she tried to remember the last time she had a full meal. Was it days ago? Or was it longer? She had lost track of time, the hours blending into one another.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked around at the others, their faces just as weary, just as defeated. The harsh reality was that no one here could offer her any hope. The volunteers were kind, but their pity stung more than it helped. They would offer her a plate of soup, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of being an outsider, of being beneath everyone else. The humiliation of it all settled deep in her chest like a heavy stone she couldn’t shake.
All she could think about now was food—real food, not the bland, tasteless meals the shelter handed out in small portions. She longed for something warm and filling, something that would make her feel whole again. A simple meal, the kind she used to take for granted, would be enough to remind her that she was still alive, still human.
She closed her eyes, imagining the taste of a warm bowl of soup, a thick slice of bread to dip into it. Maybe a cup of coffee, rich and strong, to take the edge off the hopelessness gnawing at her. It was a small dream, but in this place, small dreams felt like the only thing worth holding on to.
“Why did this happen to me?” she whispered to herself. The question was a constant echo in her mind, but she had no answer. Life had turned upside down so quickly that she could hardly remember the person she once was—the confident, smiling woman who used to go to work every day, eat out with friends, and plan for a future. It all seemed like another lifetime, another version of herself that no longer existed.
She had tried to make it on her own, but the world had a way of pushing people down when they were already struggling. After losing her job, she had tried to hold it together. But bills piled up, and her savings dwindled until there was nothing left. Friends turned their backs, and family didn’t have room to help. It was easier to turn a blind eye than to face the reality of her situation.
And now, here she was—alone in a shelter, wishing for something as simple as a warm meal and the dignity she had once taken for granted.
The door to the shelter opened, and a volunteer stepped inside with a tray of food. Emily wiped her eyes quickly, trying to compose herself, but the tears kept coming. She didn’t want to be seen like this, weak and vulnerable. The volunteer set the tray down on the table in front of her and gave her a soft smile, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Here you go, Emily,” the volunteer said gently. “We’ve got some stew tonight.”
It wasn’t much—just a small bowl of stew, but it was something. Emily tried to lift the spoon, but her hands trembled so much that it felt impossible to hold it steady. With a deep breath, she managed to take a small bite, the warm liquid soothing her throat. But it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. She needed more—more than this, more than what she had now.
For a brief moment, she allowed herself to close her eyes and imagine something better. A life outside of this shelter, a life with a real home, a real job, real meals. It felt so far away, but for that moment, it was enough to allow herself to hope again.
Audi Q3: Up to Rs 5 lakh off
The Q3 boasts sharp looks, comfortable ride quality and a decent features list. The SUV has a strong fan following and is even better than its predecessor in almost every aspect. There is no diesel now, but the 2.0-litre turbo petrol does the job well, thanks to its punchy nature. The Q3 rivals the BMW X1 and is available with discounts of up to Rs 5 lakh on some variants.
Mercedes-Benz GLC: Around Rs 5 lakh off
The GLC is aimed squarely at the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. It offers a tech-laden interior, comfortable ride and a spacious cabin. The discounts being offered range from Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
Audi Q5: Up to Rs 5.5 lakh off
Q5 Limited Edition used for representation.
The Q5 has been around for some time but is still a competitive contender in the segment. The SUV rivals the GLC and BMW X3 in India and comes with a powerful 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine. This dependable Audi is available with discounts of up to Rs 5.5 lakh.
BMW i4: Up to Rs 8 lakh off
The i4 is the all-electric derivative of the 4 Series Gran Coupe (not sold in India), which itself is the four-door coupe derivative of the 3 Series we are familiar with. India gets the i4 in eDrive40 form with a rear-mounted motor driving the rear wheels. It does not have any direct rival currently and has been a slow seller for BMW; the discounts being offered are as high as Rs 8 lakh.
Audi A4: Up to Rs 8 lakh
The A4, one of the most comfortable sedans in the category, is available with discounts of up to Rs 8 lakh. It has understated and classy looks but comes loaded with all the bells and whistles, along with a decent-sized cabin. There is no diesel on offer anymore, and the 2.0-litre petrol is quite refined.
Mercedes-Benz C 200: Up to Rs 9 lakh
The entry-level C-Class is just adequate for city use, with decent performance levels and a baby S-Class-like feel. It gets a competitive features list and tractable 48V mild hybrid-equipped powertrain. The discounts on it range from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 9 lakh.
Audi Q8 e-tron: Up to Rs 10 lakh off
The Q8 e-tron is essentially a facelift of what was previously known as just the e-tron. While the e-tron Sportback is sold out according to some dealers, the standard roof electric SUV is available with discounts of up to Rs 10 lakh at most outlets.
Audi A6: Up to Rs 10 lakh off
The A6 faces stiff competition from the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, even more so now as both models now get a long-wheelbase interior and are comparatively newer than the A6. Audi’s contender, however, isn’t far and comes with stylish looks, a potent engine line-up and an acceptable features list. All of this, coupled with discounts of up to Rs 10 lakh, make the A6 an attractive buy.
BMW X5: Up to Rs 10 lakh off
The X5, in its current avatar, looks stylish and muscular at the same time. It gets all the boxes ticked for its sporty driving manners and a comfortable ride for city commutes. However, the M Sport range is seeing higher demand, and we are told the X-Line is available with discounts of up to Rs 10 lakh at some outlets.
Kia EV6 AWD: Up to Rs 12 lakh discount
The EV6 from Kia is a stylish large hatchback based on the born-EV platform. Higher variants equipped with the AWD dual- motor setup make ensure that the car has matches the go with the show. It does a 0-100kph sprint in just 5.2 seconds and also comes with Level 2 ADAS. Most outlets are offering Discounts discounts of as high as Rs 12 lakh are on offer on the top model-spec EV6 at most outlets.
