After walking around looking at Dharavi's situation, Zoya returned to the hotel. She felt tired, all her joints felt feeble after walking down the row of shops selling various goods. She had marked important places such as clinics, ATMs, restaurants, grocery stores, and so on. It turned out that her worries were baseless. Even though Dharavi was a slum area, but all the places she needs are available there. Of course she didn't go into the alleys leading to central Dharavi . She was afraid to get lost, knowing she was a new comer.Arriving at the hotel it was too late. It was Dusk. She immediately took a shower and rested. She had bought a bag of snacks to accompany her through the night. Tomorrow, she would check out before 2 pm. But she wouldn't wait to long, maybe a bit early, because she had a lot to do.Just finished taking a shower, her phone rang. Ramya's name was on the screen. She immediately answered the call. Just as she said hello, her old friend chimed in."Where are y
At 7 am Praveen had started work. He received brief training from Uncle Anand using a sewing machine and sewing pieces of jeans. In a moment, he understood and started sewing. It's not difficult because he just followed the pattern. The material of the pants had been cut.The stocky man repeatedly reminded him to be careful, there was no need to hurry because he wasn't as skilled as the others. Praveen understood that if he were wrong he would have to untie the seams and do it again.He slept curled up all night because the room was small and occupied by 7 people, making him sore that morning. Yes, the workers sleep upstairs. You can imagine a room measuring 3 by 3 meters filled with 7 people. Just like Sardines. Much better at PN Shelter. But he had no other choice. Luckily 3 other workers lived not far away, otherwise 10 people would be more crowded.By 10 am he was getting bored. Only this time he worked just sitting behind the sewing machine, not moving much. Do sewing. Finish one
Zoya was confused. Where should she wait? She couldn't wait from she stood now, obviously could be seen. Should she hide? But where? There's nowhere to hide around. She stood at the mouth of the alley leading to the field. On the left and right were only attached houses. She might enter someone's house. What if the householder thought her as a thief and shouted at her?She was getting more confused. There was no other way but to try to trace the alley she passed before. She hesitated for a moment and afraid get lost.On seeing Praveen coming out of the public toilet, Zoya turned around right away. She decided to go back. But a minute later, she tried to look back in the hope that he was behind her, but Praveen disappeared. there were only a few passers-by.Where the hell was he? Why did he suddenly just disappear? Zoya nagged herself. Damn it, she felt left out.Inevitably Zoya had to go home alone. She tried to remember the alley she went through. When there was another alley, she
Zoya sat in one corner of her room. There was nothing else in the room other than a traveling bag, a shopping bag containing the small things she bought earlier, a bucket and a dipper. The room still looked empty and loose. She was confused, how to buy items that are rather large such as folding mattress, small table, fan, portable electric stove and others?Actually, it's not about buying the tools that was the problem, but how to bring them to the rented house. Vehicles such as bajaj cannot enter through the alley. Like it or not, she had to carry it herself. Carrying a bucket and crackle bag, she had to suppress her ego in such a way, it felt like people were staring at her. She was not used to taking care of these things all her life. All her needs were always available. If she need something, there was a maid at the house to do it.Four years in Boston was also easier. She lived in a fully equipped apartment. Even though she lived alone, she felt comfortable. Just studying, she
The elementary school building looked dingy and in some places the plaster of the walls was peeled off. There was no signboard in front of the school, but at first glance one would had known this was a school. The building consists of several classes and the courtyard was reddish soil. It was spacious to allow students to play, or perform ceremonies or to exercise. Chhota Taara Elementary School or Little Star was one of the schools in Dharavi. This school was better than other because it was bigger and resembled a normal school. Other schools were mostly like ordinary buildings that attached to other houses or places of business. The only sign that marked it was the name sign written on the front of the building. Zoya was more than half hour looking for this Chhota Taara. She was a little tired of searching around and asking people. Luckily she went to this school in early so that when she found the school it wasn't hot yet, and she wasn't sweating either. The school yard seemed em
For the past two days Praveen had felt like a bird in a cage. He could not go anywhere other than just sitting diligently in front of the sewing machine, sewing one after another. Finished one, sewed another one, and so on. From morning until late at night. His body felt crushed, his eyes stinging because he focused on seeing the needle that went up and down. He could only rest for half an hour at lunch. He was sure this was not the right job for him. And he would not like a job like this for the rest of his life. He endured these two days for the sake of Uncle Anand who had been kind enough to give him a place to stay. From time to time he said a prayer, that the worker who had returned to his village would back here soon so that he would not have the burden of leaving this place. And sure enough, his prayer was answered in the afternoon, when that man appeared at Uncle Anand's house. It turned out that he was still young, at least the same age as him. He looked on cynically when he
It was a lonely night at Uncle Anand's house. The workers were away on weekend. Even though they still work on Sundays, they don't want to miss Saturday night. Incidentally Uncle Anand and his wife were also out. Only Praveen and Raju were in the narrow front room, sitting and watching tv. "You didn't go out, Praveen?" asked Raju. "How about you? Why don't you go out for a Saturday night?" Praveen asked back. "What for? Only spend the money. It's better for me just stay at home. This year I have to be frugal to raise money." "You want to get married?" Raju just smiled. "You think thrift just to get married, do you? No! I want to get out of India!" "Where?" asked Praveen curiously. "I want to emigrate. I have two choices, maybe Dubai or Australia. But most likely Dubai. Australia is a bit tough. I don't have any sponsors there." "Sponsorship? What do you mean?" "That's the person who guaranteed us there! Otherwise Visa will not come out. I don't want to be an illegal immigrant.
It's a half past ten at night. Uncle Anand's family hadn't come home yet. Praveen had been waiting for them for twenty minutes. Another worker who lived in the house had not yet returned either."Why aren't they home yet?" Praveen asked Raju who was accompanying him in the front room."At eleven o'clock they come home. It's normal, they often come home late when they go out at weekend. Just wait," replied Raju. "Would you like me to make some chai tea?""Don't bother. I don't want to drink.""Let's have a drink while waiting for them to come home."Praveen shook his head. He was a little bit nervous waiting for Uncle Anand to come home. He wanted to tell him that he got a job and start to work tomorrow and decided to move to a new place of work. Of course Praveen had to tell him because the man had already given him a stay.Finally Uncle Anand came home."You didn't go out or just at home earlier?" the man asked seeing Praveen and Raju just sitting in front of the tv."We also just g