poor widow

One lady who was very tall used to come to our owners house and request them to let her stay in the varandah during nights. At last they permitted with the condition she helps them in household chores. She was not really too old but was in widows attire ie. cleanly shaven head and white saree worn in orthodox way and no blouse. I questioned her why she was like that . She said her husband died very young in age due to appedicitis. She had a soon who became a lorry cleaner as she could not educate him due to poverty. She was in her forties . She had no education. She knows only cooking. She was a Brahmin.She was forced to become a cook for her livelyhood. If she was not in that specific traditional attire no Brahmin family would appoint her for cooking with Madi.She had no one to help her. I felt very sorry for her.She used to come into my house and chat with me.Her name was also Annapurnamma.