Slice of life: ‘I want my kids to study well and not end up like me’

The most important thing for anyone is the love of the mother and father. My wife, Sundari, passed away 12 years ago, and so the only person left for my children is me.They stay in my hometown, Ramanathapuram, with my in-laws while I work here. I miss them so much. Sundari had a booming voice. She would never let anyone take advantage of her, and would fight them off. If you see my hand, you can see her name tattooed. I do all sorts of work to earn and save money, and would go home at least once a month to  see them. Every time  I go, they ask me for  some new toy; my heart breaks because  I cannot give it to  them. I have got one  bad habit – I drink a  lot. The children ask me to quit drinking  every time I go to visit them. They cry  and tell me that they do not want me to die and leave them alone. I have been  trying to stop, but it is hard. I studied only up to Class 12. Those days, I was careless and would bunk class and climb trees with my friends. I regret it to this date. Look at my hands, they have become rough due to my work. I have put my children in a government school, and they do very well in classes. I want them to do well and make a name for themselves, because I do not want them to have the same hands as I do. I want them to have clean hands and a happy future. It is all that I can provide for them.