Slice of Life: ‘I prepare food hygienically so that people would like it more’

I came to the city from my native, Tirupathur village in Vellore, about 25 years ago. I had finished my studies up to Class 12 before coming to Chennai, where I started to work at a private firm. After a while, I decided to start my own business. Using the money that I saved, I managed to buy a lorry and started a sand contract business. 

Over the years, I got married and we have a son and a daughter. Everything was going very well until recently. But about three years ago, my business collapsed due to the strict restrictions imposed by the government. I was left with no income to run the household. In the initial months, I suffered a lot to run my family and meet the needs of my children. After a year, I decided to start a pani poori shop in Tambaram. I open the stall at 4 pm and close it at around 10 pm. 

As there are already many such stalls in Tambaram, I have located mine near Irumbiliyur. Now, this business is helping me run my family. I prepare the masalas very hygienically so that my shop would be clean when compared to the others. Because of this, people like it more. 

Even though I am happy with this, I would still like to return to sand business. I feel bad seeing the lorries lying idle. I believe that one day the sand business would return to what it was, at which point I would resume it.