What is your religion and caste?
Muslim.
Are you married?
Yes.
Do you have children?
Yes, two children.
For how long have you been living in Delhi?
My ancestors were living here already, for generations.
With whom do you live here?
I live with my family.
Why did you come to Delhi?
For bread and butter.
What do you do?
I sell roses.
For how many years have you been doing this work?
It is the same as my age. I have been doing this work since I was born.
The money you earn, is sufficient for you or not?
Yes, it is sufficient for me.
Okay, do you send some money to your family also?
Yes, for growing crops like wheat and rice, for domestic expenses, for watering the field. For every sort of necessity I do send money. It is all in God’s grace I am able to send them whenever it is needed.
Have you ever done any different type of work?
Yes, I used to sell toys.
Right here?
Yes, right here.
So would you like to say something about your work? How do you do it?
It is like - If I earn 2 rupees, we use 1 rupee and keep 1 rupee as savings. This savings is our asset. If we do not have this asset, we will have a tough time getting by.
So, when you are working, what all do you think about?
I feel good. At least I am not dependent on anyone. It is really a matter of pride for me that despite being handicapped, I am capable of working and earning my bread and butter.
What is the best job, one which you really dream of doing?
In my opinion, this job is good, the one that I am doing right now.
How do you find life in Delhi?
It is good.
As you live here in Delhi, have you ever faced any discrimination, like people being partial with you ever?
See, every human being is different and they have different mind sets, if we think that much we cannot live in peace. Then we will not be able to survive. We are the masters of our own lives.
That means, you have faced discrimination?
Yes. I ignore all that. I do not care what others are saying or not saying, I believe in my own destiny.
So, would you like to go back to your village?
Yes, I used to go whenever needed. I used to go at least once a year.
Do you wish to go back there and settle down?
Yes, whenever there is a need to stay for a long time, I go stay there.
I mean, would you like to go there now?
If a person does not have money in hand, how can they go? What would we eat? What would we do there? Money is needed for farming as well as for food in the village. Where would this money come from?