R Sholamalai (48), Fruit seller 
Citizen

Slice of life: ‘I don’t earn enough, but a frugal life is best’

Every person has a story to share. This column puts the spotlight on the people of Chennai, faces we see but rarely interact with — giving a glimpse into their struggle

migrator

Chennai

I had a shop opposite the Central Railway station for 15 years. I used to sell cut fruits and whole fruits. Then, the business used to be really good. It was able to get my three kids through an English medium school. But then, they knocked down all the shops because of Metro construction. 

The construction is still happening. I don’t know where the shops were shifted to after they were knocked down. When you come from the Park, there was only one exit next to the subway. Now, there are so many. It’s difficult to do business. And if I bring my pushcart here, I get shooed away. I make very little money now. But it’s enough to pay rent and get food, so I suppose that’s all that matters. After all, didn’t our parents say that a frugal life is the best life? 

I’m living like that now, and I believe that’s the way to live. I worked hard and got my son into a college in Coimbatore. He secured a job and is making good money. So is my daughter. So they’re settled. But then my youngest son is still unemployed. I told him to take up a job with at least a Rs 10,000 salary so that he is making some money. He tried for some, but they were all too far away. It’s their life, I suppose, and they can do with it what they will.

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