Slice Of Life: 'I don’t want my kids to emulate me'

I came to Chennai after marriage as my husband was working in the city. He is a labourer on contract basis and my children — one girl and a boy — are going to school. I have studied till Class 8 and after that, I lost the interest to study. My father passed away when I was 10 years old. Then my mother had to take the responsibility of the family and started working as a labourer. I wanted to assist my family and started working at a printing press. I was getting Rs 300 for cutting, binding and pasting works of notebooks. I left that job after marriage and started working as a maid in my native, Tiruchy. The salary used to be very low and I have worked for salary as less as Rs 50 per month. I started working as a housekeeping staff at a textile shop and then the salary became better and I would get Rs 600. I had to struggle to manage the household with the money I was earning. I was married off at the age of 19 and then did not go to work. After my children grew up, I started working again. I want my children to study well and achieve good jobs. I want my son to be a scientist and my daughter a doctor. I will support my children in their career aspirations. I don’t wish my life for my children.