Slice of Life: ‘Life in Villupuram more peaceful than Chennai’

Chennai

I am from Villupuram. I came to Chennai with my husband just two years ago. I was married in Villupuram and my husband was working there as a labourer. We also had farmland. I used to be a cook in the neighbourhood, but then I fell sick and my husband got an employment opportunity in Chennai. After we came here, I tried working at a restaurant in Guindy. However, the work pressure was too much and I had to work for almost 10 hours. I had to give up that job. I contacted a few fruit sellers in the neighbourhood and bought a pushcart to set up a shop. I then started my work with just Rs 500. The earnings are only about Rs 1,000 per day. I have to roam around throughout the day to sell fruits or the sale is very low. My husband works as a labourer in the city and we stay in a rented house. In my native, life was peaceful than in the city. We survived with whatever money we had but here we have multiple problems due to a hassled life. But I have to work and survive somehow to support my husband.