Vishnu was born in a family of four brothers and four sisters. Vishnu was the second youngest child of the family. Vishnu's father was a sugarcane farmer, and his mother was a housewife. Vishnu's elder brother, Bala, was adopted by one of his rich members as they did not have a son to carry their name. Apparently, in 70's boys were a trophy as they carried the family's legacy, meaning surname.
Vishnu's second-oldest brother, Hari, took the responsibility of the family and joined his father in sugarcane farming. It was not much more than what Vishnu's other siblings sometimes didn't have to eat. Vishnu's father was a very smart person and also your local witch doctor. He would worship god for hours and help others with his powers for free.
When Vishnu turned 14 years he left high school due to financial issues as his younger sister was still schooling. Vishnu was smarter than his other siblings, but his emotions were higher than his intellect. He asked his father to send his younger sibling. Vishnu decided to become a sugarcane farmer, so he picked up his knife and went the next morning to the sugarcane farm. Upon reaching there, Hari saw him and took the knife away from him. Hari advises Vishnu to choose the mechanical field, as farmers don't earn much. Hari said he would support Vishnu in this and wants him to use himself wisely.
Vishnu next day, went to town to look for a job, as in their time, there weren't many apprenticeships floating around, so they would normally go and ask managers for a learning experience and a job under a low pay rate. Vishnu found a job, and it was 50 cents per hour. Vishnu went home and told his father and mother, and big brother Hari about finding a job.
Vishnu was a tool boy for senior diesel mechanics and washed buses. He would start work at 7 am and finish at 2 am in the morning. The bus drivers were told by the manager to drop Vishnu at his home, which was far away from town. The drivers would normally drop him near the shop where the driver and his buddies would drink kava or beer. Vishnu's house from the shop was 1 1-hour walk or more, but without complaining, he would walk home.
Vishnu kept quiet as he reached home and had dinner and slept, and the next day caught the morning bus and went to work. The reason why he did not tell his family or the boss was that he needed the job, and if he did complain, who would save the 14-year-old boy from the ruthless drivers? For a few months, he would walk home till one respectful mechanic who found out from someone about Vishnu's situation and went and told the manager.
The manager, the next night, followed the driver and Vishnu in his van. He saw the driver park his bus at the shop, and Vishnu started walking from there. The manager and his assistant got out of the van, and the manager went straight inside the shop. The assistant went to call Vishnu and went inside the shop. The manager took the bus keys from the driver and told him off. The manager instructed the assistant to drop Vishnu home. While driving Vishnu home, the assistant manager noticed that dangerous villagers were living here. He asked Vishnu why he didn't inform the management. Vishnu replied that he did not want to be a backstabber. Vishnu, that night, gained the trust and loyalty of the assistant manager. The next morning, when Vishnu showed up at work, he was assigned to work with a senior mechanic, but not as a tool boy, but to learn. Vishnu that day learnt a lesson that sometimes waiting and hard work help you.
2 years later, Vishnu became a diesel mechanic and also a bus driver. He would drop children's for free from his village. He would give all his salary to his mom and would help his family financially. By the time it was Vishnu, Hari, and his wife, Vishnu's father, mother, and younger sister were living with them. His other brother got married and left, and his sisters got married into good families. Hari and Vishnu were the support hold now for the family.
Bala's eldest son, Manoj, came and stayed with Vishnu's family as he was the eldest grandson and a boy. Hari's son and 2 daughters were young compared to Manoj. Vishnu was relieved that there was someone at home helping with chores. Vishnu would do long hours, 70 to 80 hours per week. It was not money he feared, it was that his family would end up on the road if he did not earn enough. Apparently, at that point, sugarcane farming took a big hit, and a price drop occurred all around the world.
To be continued....
