WARNING!!! SENSITIVE CONTENT AHEAD
The following morning, as Sarla was busy sweeping the floor, Rani approached her.
Noticing Rani's arrival, Sarla quickly said, "Hey Rani, please go wake up Veer. He wouldn't want to miss his first day of school."
Rani shook her head and replied, "He's already up! He was so excited about school that he got out of bed around 5 a.m."
After a moment of hesitation, she added, "But Sarla ma, are we really able to afford sending Veer to school? I was even considering dropping out myself so he could have the chance to study. Plus, you recently bought new uniforms for everyone and hired a private van for the school commute. Can I ask where this money is coming from? I'm worried because I don't think the NGO can provide that much support when they're struggling themselves."
Sarla took a moment before responding, letting out a soft sigh. "It came from an anonymous donor who wishes to remain unknown. Initially, this person considered adopting a child, but later decided against it. Instead, they chose to donate to the orphanage so that all the children could benefit, rather than just one."
Rani pressed on, "But you don't have to spend the money this way. I'm sure everyone is fine with their old uniforms. They may be a bit worn, but they're still in good shape. How much is the donation that you're using for this?"
With a spark of enthusiasm, Sarla answered, "The donation is about 5 lakh rupees for the orphanage and 10 lakh for the NGO."
"What! Really?!" Rani gasped in disbelief.
Sarla quickly hushed her, nodding slightly. "Shhh, keep it down. Don't let everyone know."
Rani immediately felt the need to apologize. "I'm sorry, but 10 lakh is an enormous amount."
"I know, right? I was taken aback when I heard the figure too. But there are a few stipulations," Sarla said softly.
Rani's expression shifted to concern. "What kind of stipulations?"
"There's just one. The money must be used solely for the children's welfare," Sarla explained.
Rani let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "That's it! I don't see an issue with that."
Sarla averted her gaze, responding quietly, "Well, I was hoping to set aside some for your dowry."
Rani exclaimed, "What! I've already told you I don't want to get married!" Her voice was raised in defiance.
Sarla responded firmly, "And I've already mentioned that you will have to marry someday."
"I refuse to! You never got married, so why are you pushing me into it?" Rani shot back, clearly frustrated.
Sarla urged her, "I've never been married myself, and that's why I want every girl I care for to find a partner. I understand how challenging it can be to go through life alone. Society often looks down on single women. If you want to find happiness, marriage is essential."
Rani countered firmly, "That's not the whole truth. Many women are unhappy even after marriage. Their in-laws can make their lives unbearable. I don't want to experience that."
Sarla responded, her voice rising with frustration, "That's why I'm working so hard to save money for your dowry, so you can avoid that kind of life."
"Dowry alone does not guarantee happiness in a marriage. Do you remember Kamla, my best friend from school?"
Sarla nodded, looking puzzled, so she went on "Her parents stopped her education after the 8th grade, pulling her out of school to marry her off that same year. They also provided a dowry to the groom's family. Initially, everything seemed fine, and she even became pregnant. But then her in-laws began to demand more money. When they didn't get what they wanted, they started to abuse her. The torment was so severe that she lost her baby. Instead of compassion, they only increased their violence, blaming her for the loss. Overwhelmed by the pain, she took her own life. So, is this the kind of existence you wish for me?" Rani asked, tears welling in her eyes.
"I would never wish such a fate on anyone, not even my worst enemy. But you must realize that these situations are not the norm. Not every girl faces this kind of horror," Sarla replied with a heavy heart, trying to convey her understanding.
Rani wiped her tears and said, "I understand, but I really don't want to get married. Instead, let's use this money to help Veer and the other girls attend a better school. The one we're in is a government school, and it's not good at all. There aren't even separate restrooms for boys and girls. The lights and fans barely work, and the benches creak loudly whenever someone sits down. As for the teachers, it's even worse. There was this one time I forgot my book, and the teacher got so furious that she yanked my hair, slapped me a few times, and kicked me out of class. Plus, there's a male teacher who sometimes looks at me and the older girls in a really uncomfortable way."
Sarla held her shoulders tightly and exclaimed, "What? Why didn't you tell me about this earlier? Have you reported it to your principal? If you haven't, I'll take it upon myself to speak to him."
Rani spoke with a tone filled with frustration, "We did voice our concerns! Yet, nothing changed, and he only grew more audacious. I suspect that the teacher has ties to a local politician, which is why no action has been taken against him. Even if you report him to the police, I doubt anything will come of it."
It took a moment for Rani to help Sarla regain her composure.
Sarla responded with a sense of defeat, "Alright, but if anything happens, please let me know. Don't keep it to yourself, okay?"
Rani nodded in agreement, providing her reassurance.
"Now, go wake everyone up and start getting breakfast ready with Radha while I take care of the sweeping," Sarla instructed after a brief pause.
Rani nodded and went on her way.