What is your religion and caste?
Muslim.
And are you married?
Yes.
How many children do you have?
Four.
How long have you been living in Delhi?
I’ve been here now for a total of 18 years.
Where do you live in Delhi?
Here I live along with friends, on rent.
The first time you came to Delhi, did you have any friends, family or someone known to you here already?
No, I was on my own. Previous generations of my family also used to work here.
For how many years have you been doing this work?
For 18 years.
And what work do you do here?
I do ear cleaning.
The money you earn by doing this work, is it enough?
It is enough, thank God. By the grace of God, I am able to earn my bread and butter.
Are you able to send some money to your family also?
Yes, I send money for the children’s education, domestic expenses. I’m able to take care of my mother also, my wife, family, children and also send money to buy clothes and all.
Have you done this kind of work before as well?
No, I started when I came here.
Can you tell me something about yourself? About your work?
As far as work is concerned, it is fine, I am able to earn my bread and butter. I used to earn 400 to 500 rupees daily, I could afford to pay my wife and children’s expenses. I was able to earn my bread and butter, but didn’t have anything to save.
So, when you are doing your work, what kind of thoughts come to your mind, what all do you think about?
All I think is that there is not much business. For any business you need to have money. In my work some people pay 50, some 100, others 20 or some just pay 40 rupees for ears cleaning.
What is your ideal job?
I have used up enough of my life by now. Now how many more years of life remain? At most another 20 years? Not more than that.
What would you really like to do? Maybe in your next birth? What would you say?
What would I wish to do? Tell me, better you advise me, what should I do?
Will you ever go back to your home? Do you wish to go back?
Back home?
Yes, to your village?
What would we eat there? Would we eat leaves or grass?
If these things could be managed for you, then would you like to live there or would you still prefer to live here?
There would be no need to come here, if I could get a job there for at least 10 to 15 thousand a month.
So, that means you would like to go back?
From Delhi? Why are you sending me there? There we have only grass to eat and here it is like having meat.