Slice of Life: ‘Chennai is my home for now’

At 5.30 every morning, as I pedal to the first of the apartments and houses where I clean cars, I feel very happy. But for a few morning walkers and a couple of police patrol cars parked in street corners, and an occasional bus, the streets are empty. I get to see the sky, hear the birds and watch the city slowly shake off its sleep. I think of my small village back in Nepal, my parents, and my wife who is there now. However, as I set down my bucket filled with water, all other thoughts vanish. For three hours until 8.30 am, I have to clean a number of cars in half a dozen streets. If I am delayed for any reason, like over-sleeping for example, that would have a whirlpool effect, and a few office-goers, who cannot afford to go late, have to drive off in a dirty car. 

I take pride in what I do, so I ensure I am never late and my work is thorough. On rainy days, it is a challenge to get to work, and cleaning too takes longer as the vehicles are muddy from street slush and dust. I am back in my tin-sheet roofed room at 8.30. I share it with four others, and we split the rental cost of Rs 5,000 among us and after washing and cleaning, I step out for my morning duty. I work as one of the housekeeping staff in a huge bungalow near the Boat Club area, and I am on call from 9 am to 8 pm. I get a short tea break at 11 am, and also a one-hour lunch break at 1 pm. I cycle back to my room, quickly dish up curry and rice or roti and dal and head back to the bungalow.

Occasionally, on weekends I get roped in as garden helper to the Nepali Bahadur who has been instrumental in getting many from my village to Chennai. I studied upto Class 8 in Nepal. I can read and write well, but could not find any job there. So I came to Chennai in 2005. My brother Seetharam was already working here in a vegetable store. Initially, I worked in a small restaurant, but the money was not enough. That is when I decided to clean cars, to earn a few hundred rupees more. 

When I first came here, the cost of living was low but now everything is expensive. I cannot afford to watch movies, but I am on Facebook, and that is entertainment too. 

People here respect sincere and clean workers. Also, me and my Nepali friends help each other out. If any of us is sick or if we have to make a trip back home, the others take on the responsibility of the absent friend. I go to see my parents once in two years. My father is old and infirm and cannot work and my parents depend upon my income. I got married seven years ago, and brought my wife too here. Our two sons are of school-going age, so I sent them all to Nepal in June. I have to return there for good someday, but until then Chennai — and the area between Taramani and Boat Club — is my home.