"Are you home already? Are all your goods sold out?” asked Aunt Raju seeing Praveen come home with a radiant face. "Yes, Auntie! It's all sold out!" "Wow, you're great! Apparently it's a blessing too, isn't it? your viral news? You've been getting home early lately." "Yes, Auntie! My idli is getting more and more in demand." "Then tomorrow you can take more idli. The more you carry and run out, the more you can earn. Now you help me to grind rice," said the old woman ordering Praveen. "Yes, sure, Auntie, but only until four o'clock, because at five I'll be out for a while for something and tomorrow I will ask permission not to sell," Praveen informed. Aunt Raju frowned and looked at him intently. "What for?" “Family matters, Auntie.!” Praveen replied looking for an excuse. "Do you have family here? You said you had no one?" “Hm, I have a business with Uncle Anand. He needs my help. Can I get off tomorrow? I've been working for more than two weeks, I'll just take one day." “
"Where are we going?" Zoya asked when they were at the side of the main road. It was a very busy afternoon. People came home from work and of course the streets looked crowded and bustling, typical of Indian streets."We'll just take a taxi from here," said Praveen trying to look for a taxi.“Take a taxi? Where are we going?" Zoya asked in surprised."We're looking for a restaurant in Zion.""Why don't we go to the nearer one? Isn't there a place to eat here?""No! I want it in Zion. It's not far, isn't it?""If it's not far, we can just walk!" Zoya said. Praveen glared at her.“I don't want to trouble you, Miss Ashita! I'm sure if we go by walk, you'll be sweating. The weather is still a bit hot this afternoon,” replied Praveen.A taxi passed in front of them and honked."You guys need a taxi?" asked the driver, sticking his head closer to the window."Can you take us to Zion?" asked Praveen."Sure! 110 rupees!”“100 rupees! It's not far from here!” Praveen bargained."Come on up!" s
Hearing Zoya said so Praveen's face turned serious. "Hell No! I'm not that kind of man. Honestly, if I wanted to, I might have been surrounded by women a long time ago. It's easy for me to conquer women and take advantage from them. What's so great about deceiving women and profiting from them? I don't really like playing around with girls." "Oh yeah?" "Do I look like I'm babbling?" "Yeah, you're teasing me now! Isn't it?" Praveen laughed. “Sounds like that huh? Well, don't take it to heart then!" "I want to ask you, why do you treat me? We've just known each other?" "Then who else do I want to treat? You are the only one I know in Dharavi. The one I want to approach." "Approach?" “Oops, sorry! I'm babbling again… I don't know why. I think it's fun to know you. Moreover, your face resembles someone. Back when we just met, I misunderstood you right? You look like the girl in the car that I broke it's rearview mirror. But never mind, it doesn't matter anymore. I just want to
They were already at Cinema, which was still in Zion. Praveen and Zoya just walked there and they spent fifteen minutes to reach there. The cinema building which consists of several floors was on the right side of Sion Circle Road. The building looked majestic, really much different from the cinema that Praveen frequented in Chandrapur. The Cinema which was his second home was owned by a local businessman, not like this one. He knows the employees and guards well so he was free to go in and out. "Wow, it must be fun watching in a comfortable atmosphere like this," said Praveen amazed when he was in the cinema lobby, not far from the ticket counter. The lights were sparkling. On the walls were neatly arranged movie posters. The air also felt cool. There was a counter selling food and soft drinks too. "Isn't all cinema like this?" Zoya asked in surprised. “This one is luxurious. The cinema I frequent in Chandrapur is quite modest,” "What's the cinema like in your village?" “There
Praveen went that morning in his best appearance. It was only 6 o'clock. He purposely left 3 hours earlier to avoid being late. However, he must show seriousness with the schedule set by Mr. Manoj. He really didn't want to be late at the Prouction House. Better to wait there than come late. He left almost at the same time as the other Idli sellers, and it made them wonder, why wasn't Praveen selling and leaving so well-dressed? Where was he really going? But no one dared to ask directly. Only he was let go by Aunt Raju with a sour face. But Praveen didn't care. He set off with a steady stride. When he arrived at his destination, it was still quiet. The office wasn't open yet, and no one had come yet. Unlike the other day when he auditioned, the office was bustling with people, especially the audition participants. He waited outside the fence. He waited a long time, almost half an hour. He could only enter after the gate was opened by security. "Who do you have an appointment with?
Zoya had just arrived that morning at Doorna Kindergarten. The principal, Mrs. Fateema, didn't seem as enthusiastic as usual. She looked gloomy, in contrast to the faces of the students who came with cheerful faces. During the morning exercise, she just stood in the corner watching the children. The other two teachers, Harshida and Shanti, seemed busy arranging the children in a line. They also wondered what was wrong with Mrs. Fateema, but they were reluctant to ask. Zoya approached Mrs. Fateema. "Mrs. Fateema, you look down this morning. Are you unwell, or is there a problem with our school?" Zoya asked carefully. She looked at Zoya with a sad look. "Yeah, I'm having a problem. It's a bit heavy for me to handle on my own." She said frankly. "Is it a personal matter?" "I never bring personal matters to school." "Does it have anything to do with school? May I know? Who knows I can help?" Mrs. Fateema looked at Zoya again, then took a deep breath. "I don't really want to let
Mrs. Fateema's steps were fast. Zoya continued to follow her through the winding alleys of the densely populated Dharavi neighborhood. The summer air was as hot as ever. "Is It still far?" Zoya asked slightly out of breath. It's been fifteen minutes they walked from school to Mrs. Fateema's house. This was Zoya's first visit to her house. "We will be there in a minute," said Mrs. Fateema. The lunch time was past. Her stomach was growling. Earlier she had asked her to eat first, but Mrs. Fateema refused. She said, just having lunch at her house. The alley was getting narrower because the houses on both sides of the alley. Maybe not more than half a meter wide. Let alone motorbike passed, pedestrians only have to pull over in the opposite direction. The funny thing was there were so many doors that directly face the alley. Zoya didn't expect Mrs. Fateema to live in an area like this. She must have passed through this alley every day so that she memorized the alley like a maze.
"You don't have to sell the goat, ma'am. It's too bad because it was already intended for sacrifice!" Zoya said. "Never mind! I think I can sacrifice next year. Helping to add payment for the building rent so that the children can go to school as well as worship. Both have benefits for many people," said Mrs. Fateema again, still staring at the goat tied up in the vestibule. Zoya was speechless. How noble the woman's heart. In the simplicity of her life, still thinking about the interests of others. "Miss Fateema, I promise, I will do my best to keep Doorna's school from eviction, even if we have to move, I will try to find a better building. This school cannot be closed, lest their learning process be disrupted because of this!" Zoya said confidently. "How can you be so sure?" asked Mrs. Fateema looking at Zoya. "Trust me, I will move as fast as I can to raise funds. At Gondia I was successful whenever I was appointed to raise funds," Zoya lied. Her brain had begun to arrange