Slice Of Life: ‘I will work hard till I can, will never depend on my kids’

I hail from Madurai. It has been more than 20 years since I relocated to Chennai in search of employment. In Madurai, where I was born and brought up, I took up farming after primary education. However, as farming did not go well and we could not earn much out of it, I decided to come to Chennai. The city is a hub for employment, with many opportunities. Hence, I came here and started working as a driver for an export company. Though my job is not very comfortable, I have to continue for the sake of running my family. As a driver, I have odd working hours and the city traffic is also a challenge. Nevertheless, I am happy about my job. As the traffic regulations are very strict, we have to stay focused and safe. I have settled with my family in Chennai and have two sons who are pursuing higher studies. They want to take up government jobs. Even after my sons start earning, I will continue to do my job because I want to be independent. I will ensure that I live a respectable life even if I have to work hard and make sacrifices. I do not want to burden my children and make them bear my expenses. I will work until I can, so that my family can run smoothly.