Kochi: When two-year-old Asther from Odisha traced her first letter in Malayalam, tears welled up in the eyes of Sophy Job, on whose lap the toddler sat. Gently guided by Master Sippy Pallippuram, the moment marked not just Asther's initiation into the alphabet but also the beginning of Sophy's long-cherished dream to illuminate the child's future with the light of learning.

For Sophy (49), the toddler is the treasure she never had. Asther is the youngest child of a migrant family from Odisha in Sophy's neighbourhood. Asther's parents struggled to raise their three children as her father worked at a restaurant. Even the older two children dropped out of school since Asther's birth. Sophy, a former teacher, took charge of the child's education, fulfilling her long-held dream. She and her husband, Job, a retired Assistant Section Officer from M G University, do not have children of their own. "I was the one who suggested the name Asther. It was the name I always wished to give my child, if I ever had one," Sophy said.

Today, little Asther is showered with affection and guidance at Sophy's home, where she spends most of her time. Her mother often visits to feed her. "Let her grow up receiving love from both families. I have promised them that I will make her smart by educating her," Sophy added.