“I have been working as a bicycle mechanic on the roadside opposite to Chaderghat bus stop for more than 35 years now. I had shifted to Hyderabad from my hometown Orissa in 2009.

We were five brothers and three sisters and my father, who was a construction worker, couldn’t afford our education so I had to drop out of school after class three. Life wasn’t easy later.

After doing a few odd jobs at different cities, I got into this field, repairing bicycles and other two wheeler vehicles. Ever since, this has become a part of my life.

Every day, I spend around 12 hours repairing cycles and take home Rs.400 to 600.
However, I have a few debts to clear which I am carrying for several years.

Thankfully, with god’s grace, I am getting quite a few service requests nowadays, as people are slowly moving back to cycles to commute for shorter distances keeping health and fitness into consideration. I am just hopeful that the wheel of fortune will turn in my favour one day!”