What is your religion and caste?
Hindu, Mandal.
Are you married?
Yes.
How many children do you have?
Three children.
And how long have you been living in Delhi?
It must be around -- I guess, around 6 to 7 years.
Where exactly do you live in Delhi?
I don’t know. I don’t exactly know where I live.
Who do you live with?
With my husband.
So, why did you come to Delhi?
I used to have a lot of health issues and that’s why I came here. I had injured my head in the village and I wasn’t doing too well after that. That’s why I had to come here. My son, too, used to fall ill often.
Are you undergoing any treatment here?
No, we’re all good now. My kids are fine and I am doing well too.
Before you came to Delhi, did you have any friends or family staying here already?
Yes, I did. But I stayed alone. There is a couple -- I mean, I never visited them. My sister-in-law stays here. My brother also stays in Gurugram. They all stay here.
What kinds of work do you do?
I just make mala (flower garlands). That’s it.
How long have you been doing this job?
It’s been two years.
The money you get from this job, is it enough?
Sometimes I make 2000 pieces, sometimes I make 3000. Sometimes it’s 4000 and sometimes it’s 5000.
Had you ever done this type of work before?
No. This is my first time.
Do you like it?
Yes. It’s better than wasting your time in Delhi.
Tell me something about your work. How do you do it? How do get the material? What do you buy? How do you manage everything?
There’s material worth 10 rupees or even 50. I get material by wholesale, going by the dozen. Whatever material you want, you pay for that.
What do you do once you get the material?
I sit at home and make garlands.
And where do you sell them?
I don’t sell them. I go and deliver them. So it’s something like, “We want this many garlands. Could you make them for us?” "Yes." There are many people who do this. I mean, these kinds of orders can fetch you some money. If you sell the garlands locally, you don’t make much money. That’s why I’ve started taking a few orders now.
What do you think about while you’re working, making garlands that is?
Nothing, really. I just sit and do my work and that’s how I spend my time.
In your opinion, what would be an interesting job that you’d like to do?
I am not an educated person, so any job that I could get would be uninteresting. There’s no interesting work for me, I guess. I am not educated.
So, how do you like life in Delhi?
I like it here.
When you came to Delhi, did you face any kind of discrimination?
I don’t really venture out much. I stay at home. I just leave to collect the materials and then for the delivery. That’s it. There are two men who follow me. I have their [phone] numbers as well. They tell me, “Come with us for a new job.” They always tell me to come but I don’t go. They are really pushing me to take up that job.
What kind of job is that?
I haven’t gotten the job yet. They just told me if I come with them, they have a job for me.
What job?
I don’t know what the job is yet.
If you ever get a chance to go back to Darbhanga, then would you like to go back or not?
Yes, I’d go. I have my in-laws there and my parents as well. So, it’s important that I go. I make sure I visit them at least once a year.
But if you ever got a chance to go and live there forever, would you go or not?
Yes, when my kids grow up, I’d like to get them married in the village. Currently I live in a rented space. We don’t own a house. For how long can I go on paying rent? I can’t tell you anything for sure. I’ll do whatever my husband tells me to do.