But on April 28, the Dundas St. W. and Keele St. shop will close permanently as Thamo and Vasuki, who came to Canada in 1990 after fleeing the Sri Lankan civil war, say it’s time for a more simple life.

“It’s been very stressful,” Vasuki said. “Every day, you have to come here, wake up at 4:30 a.m.,” adding that since they arrived in the country, they, particularly her husband who also works as a machinist, have never stopped working.

The Radhakrishnans, who are Tamil, left Sri Lanka in 1985 to evade the long, bloody civil war between the Sinhalese military and Tamil guerrilla fighters.

Thamo’s father was killed during the conflict. It was around this time, too, that Thamo and Vasuki were expecting their son, Nish, adding more urgency to leave, they said.

“Thamo thought, ‘No more.’ We had to fear for our lives,” Vasuki said.

The couple travelled by bus to the capital Colombo. Along the way, they encountered military checkpoints, an experience Vasuki called her “worst nightmare.” Then, they flew to India, where their son was born, settling into a two-bedroom apartment.

“The doctor (in India) was really upset,” she added, referring to her on-the-move pregnancy, “but we didn’t have a choice.”

About a year later, they arrived in France, where they lived for four years in Paris. Vasuki cleaned offices; Thamo worked in restaurants. Finally, they arrived in Canada in 1990, sponsored by relatives who had immigrated before them.

*Read the rest of the story originally published the thestar.com here.*