It can rain anytime. This temporary roof is enough when it drizzles. But I have kept the tarpaulin ready. After all, I have been doing this job for the last 20 years here at Pulimood junction and I am all prepared for the rainy season.
When I was left all alone with my two daughters, what came to my rescue was this job. I start work by around 7.30 p.m. and continue till 11 p.m. Babu is a relative who helps me. I stay on Mathrubhumi road and bring everything from my home in an auto.
In addition to thattu dosa, my menu has omelette and bull's eye, made with duck’s or hen’s eggs. Then there is rasa vada and pappadams too. Coconut chutney and chilli chutney, which is made with red chilli, onion and tomato, is served with the dosa.
I buy rice and get the dosa batter ground at a mill near Statue Junction. Every day I bring here dosa batter of five kg of rice, vada of one kg black gram (uzhunnu) and 50 pappadams.
There are days when I do good business, especially on week days. Weekends are pretty dull because many of the customers go home. My clientele includes people of all ages, some of them come with families. Quite a number of youngsters also have food from here. In fact, the number of customers is increasing despite the fact that there are a lot of thattu dosa corners in the area. Many people take parcels also.
In the morning I run a tea stall near Pulimood junction. But that doesn’t earn enough to run my family. That is why I started doing this work. I charge Rs. 5 for a dosa. I used to sell it for Rs. 2 in the beginning; now the price of black gram has gone up so high that I had to increase the price.
Sunday is my holiday. Also, when I am not feeling well, I stay at home. I am 55 now and there are days when I am too tired to work.
It isn’t easy working in the light of this kerosene lamp. But then I can’t complain. I am happy that I’ve married off my two daughters. I will work as long as I can.
(A weekly column on men and women who make Thiruvananthapuram what it is)
