Previously..........
Raju, a gracious boy who earns his living by selling the newspaper and also by working as a guide to give a tour of Dharavi. He had a dream of becoming a journalist. A group of students from US comes for making a short film on 'Life of people in slums' and meets Raju. Vineet, one of the member became good friend of Raju. Suspicion rose in Vineet's mind when he saw Raju keeping money in two different pockets and giving just some money to his mother and going in the area of drug mafia. He confronts Raju and Chetan both, but both gave random excuses which increased his suspicion and he thought something was fishy. He had bad vibes coming on that matter and thought that Raju was not something what he seemed and there might be a hidden face.
Next Day.....
With Vineet's mind flooding with questions
about Raju, he was losing it. He was very disturbed and was not able to focus
properly on his short film. Even his group was also suspicious about him that
something was wrong with him. They asked him, but he told that it was nothing,
just he was not feeling well because of the change in weather. The group was
busy with the short film as 10 days were left but he was busy thinking about
Raju. He decided that in order to satisfy his doubts and to finish once and for
all whatever that was, he need to think something and act on it fast. Till now he
had suspicion only on Raju, but seeing Chetan defending Raju and making random
excuses, his suspicion also came on Chetan too.
Next day when Raju as usual went silently,
Vineet took his handicam and started recording as he followed Raju.
Going 2-3 times after him, he knew half
of the way and so swiftly followed him by recording simultaneously. He reached
quite a long way from the place he was with his group and when he entered the
area of the drug mafia, he found people looking at him with suspicion . He
thought that they might misunderstood him with a journalist by looking at the
handicam and so to save his life, he went back to his group. But the work he
wanted was already done.
Vineet decided to confront Chetan rather
than Raju and so went to meet Chetan. Before showing the video Vineet again
asked about the whereabouts of Raju and Chetan gave a random reason. To that
Vineet told that he saw him going towards the area where drug was sold. Chetan
laughed and told that it was not possible and how many times should he clarify his
doubts. Hearing that a slight smile came to the corner of Vineet's face and he
showed the video to Chetan. Seeing the
video Chetan's face turned pale and he started sweating. Wiping the sweat off
his brow, Chetan told that it was not possible, the person looked like Raju, but can't be
Raju. To that Vineet irritatingly shut off the handicam and told him to shut up.
He told Chetan," No more games, Chetan. You have spoke enough lies. Now
comeon out with the truth." Chetan started thinking, but Vineet had no
time to spare. So he threatened him to show that video to Raju's mother if he
doesn't tells the truth. Finally Chetan decides to speak up.
Sometime before, Raju's mother and his sister
had to urgently go to their village. It was the time during which their only
source of income was Raju's newspaper selling, because Raju was not doing guide
tours at that time. Raju's mother used to do some stitching work, but the
earnings were minimal. So time was tough for them. So as they had to urgently go to their village, Raju gave all the money he earned to his mother for the
journey and stuff, keeping just the money enough to buy newspaper next day.
That night as he was not having money, he skipped his dinner and slept empty
stomach. Next morning he felt uneasiness and he felt like he would fall ill.
But not caring for himself, just to earn money, he went to sell the newspaper.
It was very hot day as May was going on and in that extreme heat, he was
selling newspaper empty stomach.
He
was feeling ill and he was completely drenched in sweat. He had not even drank a single drop of water and so was dehydrated. Suddenly he saw everything turned blur and
darkness covering his eyes and with this he fell on the footpath. People
surrounded him, but nobody tried to help him.
An
old woman was passing by the footpath. She was completely disheveled wearing
torn sari, hair scattered, walking with a stick and limping a little while
walking. She saw Raju lying on the floor and immediately came to action. She
lifted Raju with the help of one of the other person there and took him with her to her house. She took great care of him for two days until Raju's illness was
cured. She was a poor lady who begged for food by going from house to house and
that way she lived. She didn't had anyone and lived alone in a small hut at the
end of the area where drug mafia lived. Her son became a drug addict and she
lose him at an early age. When she saw Raju lying on the footpath, she felt as
if his own son was lying on the floor.
Raju
didn't knew how to thank her and so he
told her that she was like his mother and he will take care of her like a son.
So from that day onward Raju earns money for not one mother, but two. Everyday
after selling newspaper, he goes to his second mother to give his earnings so
that she doesn't have to beg for a living.
With tears flowing down Vineet's eyes, he
felt guilty of everything. He hated himself for thinking such a thing for Raju.
He wondered what a person Raju was and how can he be so selfless. Chetan's eyes
were also somewhat wet and he told Vineet that he was wrong about Raju in every
way and there is no one like him. He was proud of him. Vineet asked Chetan if
Raju's mother knew anything about that. Chetan replied negatively and also
pleaded not to tell this thing to Raju's mother or confront Raju. Chetan
further added that even Raju had not told him about that. But he somehow found
out about that by talking with the old lady.
Vineet left Chetan there and went back to
the hotel. He needed sometime to grasp all that. Tables had completely turned
as he once thought to find out about Raju's hidden face, it now turned out that
his hidden side made him earn even more respect than before. In the hotel room, lying on the bed a thing
came in his mind which he thought can do justice to him and to Raju too. He
thought that it was the least he could do
for him and so called his group for an urgent meet and that thing was
decided.
Ten days later
Vineet and his team bid goodbye to Raju and
Chetan, thanking them for the wonderful time spent with them. They really
enjoyed there. Raju had also become teary eyed as he had developed quite a
bonding with Vineet. Vineet gave Raju his number and told him if any time he
wanted anything, just call him. Apart from that Vineet promised him to call
once in ten days to the public PCO near Raju's house to have a chat with him.With a
thought of doing something for Raju, Vineet and his team landed back in US.
It was time for the presentation. They had
to present the short film on ' Life of People in Slums', turned out that the
title of short film read,' An Act of Kindness' and the film revolved around a
boy in slums who was compassionate with humans as well as animals, who knew the
valve of humanity and core values which didn't deter even because of his monetary status. The short film ended and the room was filled with a big round
of applause. The judges were very much
impressed by this. Vineet move forward and requested something from the judges.
All started discussing seriously and
after sometime nodded seeing Vineet which brought a huge smile on Vineet's face
along with the entire group's face.
When
the urgent meeting was called by Vineet, it was about the film to be shot.
He convinced his group to do something for Raju and so from that day they
secretly shot Raju's activities and made
a quite inspiring and heart touching short film. Raju didn't knew about that,
but Chetan knew and he helped Vineet and his group to make it successfully.
After the presentation was over, Vineet
told everything about Raju to their judges, who were the heads of their
school to help him as he genuinely deserved quality education. Listening everything
they decided to call India to one of their college's subsidiary in Mumbai to sponsor
complete education of Raju which included everything.
Twelve years later,
" The situation here is quite tense.
The government is ready to provide all the help needed. We are constantly in
watch here and each and every information will reach you first by us. So stay
tuned to News Daily. With cameraman Rajat, I Raju sharma reporting live from Kashmir." With a wide smile on Vineet's face seeing him achieve the thing he wanted, he
switched off the TV.
Kindness Pays and it pays well. It paid for both the old woman who got a son in form of Raju by her kindness and worked for Raju also as he became journalist with the help provided by Vineet. Don't forget we are humans and don't forget the values and emotions which make us different from animals. Show compassion, love , respect for others. It's your karma only which which take you anywhere in life. So Be Kind!! Be Gentle!.....Stay Happy!!!!
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