Survival and desire for more

For me, The immediate first necessity was food. Therefore I worked as literate mazdoor in PWD department for a couple of months after my graduation in 1973. I was paid Rs105/- per month. Then I applied for  a post called telephone operator and was selected and worked for one year at Bhalki exchange. But i was not satisfied with this duty, as it was of SSLC level[low grade] post. I was thinking of getting a better-paid job which suited my qualification as graduate.
I applied for a post in central government called Assistants grade. I purchased relevant material and was reading, whenever I get free time after my duty hours; appeared for the exam at Hyderabad and my performance was below average. I was shocked, of my inability to do better in the exam. I was hating the present low-paid job. I was restless and remained absent to my duty. I lost almost 18 months that-way.  The department gave a warning letter, to report back to duty otherwise disciplinary action will be initiated, like that.
My mother also forced me to go back to duty. I did so, but my leave-case settlement was delayed for more than two months. By this time I lost my mother. She was attacked by tuberculosis. I somehow continued to work, as money was needed for basic necessity. After a few months, i was made senior operator in my HQ, Bhalki. I felt elated to some extent. now I need not go for night duty. Life started again and my wife joined me and i completed almost five years of service at Bhalki.
One, Mr. Bhagavati Ramesh was my college classmate and my colleague in Bhalki telephone exchange. Since we were graduates, we applied for departmental competitive exam to seek promotion as Phone Inspectors. We both went to Gulberga and wrote the exam. I was selected for the said post and was trained in Hyderabad for six months and was posted to work at Sandur near Bellary. I worked here for almost two years and was living with my family and children. Here I prepared for the post of Junior Engineer as a departmental candidate. I wrote the exam and was selected. I was trained in Kerala in RTTC Tiruvananthpuram for one year. I was posted to Raichur Telephones.Now, my ago was fully satisfied. I worked happily for almost 12 years at Raichur.
Then, on mutual transfer i came back to Bidar Division and after three years I was again promoted as SDE Telecom on seniority. I did this officer's work till my retirement in 2009.