Slice Of Life: ‘Saving each penny to open restaurant’

I have been working at a tiffin stall for about 16 years now. I joined work immediately after school. I am from Madurai and came to Chennai for job. I have studied only till Class 10. I did not have the interest to study further. That is why I started to work after writing Class 10 public examinations. My wife is well educated. She has completed post-graduation. But that is not my passion. I felt I would do better if I dropped out and started to support my family. I have worked in the northern states of India, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bihar, for about 13 years of my life. I started working there at my uncle’s shop in Lucknow and assisted him at many of his shops before I got married and returned to Tamil Nadu to start working here. I have mother, two sisters, wife and one-year-old daughter at home. I want to build my own house in my native place. I visit Madurai during festivals such as Pongal, Diwali and other important occasions. I earn around Rs 500 every day. I work along with seven other staff and stay with them. I used to have problems adjusting to the area when I came here, but now I like this place. I want to open my own restaurant in the future. I am saving money for my daughter’s education, too, as I want her to study in a good school.