I was born in Bangalore 45 years ago and have lived here all my life. I studied in the New Horizon School till the tenth standard but then dropped out because most of my friends were doing that. I regret that today. I wish I had studied more. Both my siblings continued with their studies and are doing very well.
I come from a traditional Hindu family but fell in love and married a Muslim. He is a wonderful man who has always supported me and I’m very happy with him. He owns a meat shop and also drives an auto. He recently got into the auto business because we need to supplement our income.
The meat shop used to do well before but now due to inflation, the price of everything has gone up, and business is much slower.
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I have two children — a son and a daughter. My son is still studying — he is in the final year of PUC and is hoping to finish his degree and get a good job. My daughter is married and has done a beauty parlour course. She used to run a small parlour. She has taken a break as she has just had her first baby but she is going to go back once her child is a little older.
My day starts early — I am up by 5 a.m., finish cooking, cleaning and washing and then head to Indiranagar where I cook and help in a house there.
I finish by around three and head back home. I get to unwind a little before I head back to the kitchen to make dinner. I don’t get much time to myself, but when I do, I like watching the news and cookery shows on television. I really enjoy cooking and I want to master different sorts of cuisines. I experiment a lot with food.
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So much has changed in Bangalore over the last 30 years. I remember when I first learnt how to drive a scooter, I used to practice in the hub of the city — M.G. Road, which used to be so empty and traffic-free. Today I dread even my daily commute from home (Byappanahalli) to work (Indiranagar) — there is too much traffic on the road.
I think that is because of the sudden spurt in the number of people who have moved to the city. It makes everything more expensive too, I think. I remember how the minimum rate of an auto was once Rs. 2, today it’s more than ten times that.
Which is why, I really am glad that I am working. I started three years ago when my daughter got married and I wanted to do something in my spare time. I have never looked back. It’s nice to have a little extra money for small luxuries. I think it’s extremely important for women to be financially independent. It helps you live life on your own terms. It makes me feel very happy.
I am is a column about men and women who make Bangalore what it is.