'I work for 16 hours and earn Rs 3,500'

Siraj Sheikh
Rickshaw-puller

I don't dream these days, at least not for myself. That's a luxury I can't afford. Life has been pretty tough for the last 20 years.

My father ran a bedding store. To me, he was a designer. I loved the way he carved out sofa and pillow covers from a simple piece of cloth.

Lending him a helping hand was a fabulous option to me as a kid.

I thought of succeeding him some day. But fate had something else in store.

Baba was taken ill and as I was forced to earn bread for my family. I was yet to pick up Baba's skill. Hence a friend suggested that I should start pulling a rickshaw.

I had to bury my dream to cater to the needs of Ma and two younger brothers. Then, I had just finished my Class VIII examination. I did intend to study further but could not.

At present, my day starts in the wee hours. I pick up school kids from their homes and drop them at their respective schools.

Till their schools get over, I take flying customers. From noon till about 4 pm, I ferry the school kids to their homes.

Apart from a very short lunch break, I don't have any respite and work continuously till 9 and 9.30

pm.

And can you guess how much I earn in lieu of this backbreaking exercise? A paltry Rs 3,500 a month.

Didi, there has been a change in governance in our state.

People are bragging so much about poriborton(change).

But as a citizen of this country, nothing has changed in my life. It is just getting worse.

My wife was forced to take up a job as a housemaid a few months ago. She earns about Rs 1,000 -- it somewhat adds up to our household expenses.

I have only one bank account where I have managed to save only Rs 3,500 in all these years. I have got my son and daughter admitted to good schools and I do hope that they have better lives than me.

When I was a kid, my father hoped I would have a good life. But I could not live up to his expectations.

I sincerely hope that my son does not have a similar experience. When I was forced to give up my studies, it hurt a lot.

For nights, I wept. Then my mother consoled me by saying that 'Soon Allah will reward me for my hard work.'

I am still waiting for that reward. Does it lay in my son's future success? Time alone can provide an answer.

Till then, it's going to be a long wait for me.

Image: Siraj Sheikh | Photograph: Indrani Roy