Slice Of Life: ‘I bring lunch for grandkids and watch them eat’

Chennai

I have lived in Vepery all my life. I was a lorry driver until 10 years ago. That’s all I knew to do for more than four decades. When I turned 55, I realised that I needed to take things slow. I quit my job as a driver and started working as a watchman. I have worked at Saravana Jewellery Store building, Periyar Thidal building and now, I work at SBI building. I like this job - it’s not stressful at all. I can take it easy and lounge around all day. At this age, it is the ideal job. I get a salary that is enough to handle my regular expenses, so there is nothing to complain about. I go to the temple early in the morning every Friday without fail. I clean the temple premises, eat two bananas, and come to my work. I am married, have a daughter who teaches at a school and two granddaughters. I want to spend as much time as I can with my granddaughters. Every day, I take their lunch boxes to their schools and watch them eat. I feel so content to be able to spend this much time with them.”