“Born and raised in Mayavaram, I was forced to work at my father’s hotel after school. Around 1960, both my education and my father’s business took a hit. I was forced to leave my young sister at a relative’s place where she slipped, fell into the temple pond and died — my family sunk into depression.

As soon as I completed my tenth grade, my older brother brought me here, to Chennai, along with my mother and other siblings. My father sold his hotel and was working odd jobs around that time. I soon found a job with Standard Motors and was happy that I could support my family. I married a working girl to ensure that the family comes to a stable position. But things did not get better as my career was rocky and my job, unstable.

There was a time when I thought I’d have to stop my children’s education. Had it not been for my wife, their education would have met the same fate as mine. With my loving wife by my side, I sailed through all the hardships. Today, my children are married and settled. My son, who was working in the US, has come back to look after his ailing mother.

If there’s one thing I regret, it is losing my sister in the pond mishap. But it looks like god has made up for it by bringing her back to me as my granddaughter. The way my granddaughter smiles, brings me my spectacles and phone every evening as I step out for my walk, reminds me of the way my sister used to run around the house and play with me.

Evening walks are my only respite and the reason behind that is my company. I lost partial vision to glaucoma and wouldn’t be able to step outside the house if it wasn’t for them. God has strange ways of making up for the sufferings we go through. But one thing is for sure, in the end, he makes sure you get the happiness that you deserve!”

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