Anuja (2024)

[bunniefuu]

Once upon a time,

there was a farmer who lived with his

wife, daughter, and a pet mongoose.

One day, the parents were

called away to the city.

So, they left their baby in

the care of the pet mongoose.

While the parents were away,

a snake slithered through

the window of their hut.

But the mongoose

protected the baby,

and shred the snake to pieces

with his razor-sharp teeth.

When the parents returned,

the mongoose ran

out to greet them.

When they saw blood

dripping from his mouth,

they assumed the mongoose

had devoured their baby.

The father began to beat

the mongoose with his cane.

The mother ran inside, only to

find the snake's shredded corpse

lying on the floor

and their baby

completely unscathed.

But by the time she realized

what really happened,

the farmer had beaten the

brave little mongoose to death.

And?

And what?

That's it!

You must've forgot the ending.

Look, I've forgotten

lots of Mom's stories.

But I remember this one.

Can you still remember

the sound of her voice?

I wish I could.

Bring the girl!

Yes, Sir.

Sit down!

What are you doing here?

Why havent you been in school?

I

She's earning an honest living.

That's what she's doing.

And she has me to thank for it!

Honest?

You are aware that

this is ill*gal?

Tell him your age.

Fourteen.

Listen, whatever your

name is. Uh, Mr. Mishra.

We have proper documents

for all our employees.

No one works here illegally.

My child, the admission test is

at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

You have a special gift.

But I still had to pull the strings

to get your name on the exam list.

We don't usually

take girls like

Like what?

You mean, "girls like" what?

What are you trying

to say? Go on.

Out with it!

This is an extraordinary

opportunity for her.

And who will pay for

this "opportunity"?

The exam fee is 400.

It's hardly a fortune.

Maybe not for you,

Mr. Mishra. 400!

But it is for her.

A chance at a scholarship to Williams

boarding school is a big deal!

Enough.

You're

educated, a real smart guy.

I'm not.

I'm just some jackass.

But this girl knows exactly what she

wants. And exactly what shes doing.

Everyone here works voluntarily.

And I'd be grateful

if you would now

voluntarily get the

hell out of my office.

I'm a busy man. Out!

I'm aware of your scheme.

Tuesday morning, 8:00

a.m. Don't forget!

Out!

Scram.

Scram!

Yes, Mr. Adams!

Okay, go ahead.

Go on.

Go ahead.

- Hm. Which one?

- This, here.

"Gainfully employed man"

"Seeks"

"seeks an equally

suitable bride."

And?

Keep going!

"The eligible girl

should have fair skin."

Does my skin look fair?

Not fair enough for this clown.

- What is this?

- "Girl should not"

"Girl should not be too

ambitious in terms of work."

Shouldn't be ambitious?

If the girl isn't

ambitious, then who will be?

Do the boys ever

get any work done?

- No.

- No.

- Bye, bye, Mr. Handsome.

- "Handsome"!

Listen, my pumpkin. About

that exam on Tuesday.

You know that you'll

get top marks.

A perfect score. I'm sure.

400!

Even if we had that kind of money,

it still wouldn't be worth it!

Not worth it?

Everything has its price.

We talk about

marriage and weddings.

But that also costs

a ton of money.

Then how do you ever

expect to get married?

Don't worry. I've

thought of everything.

And if you're willing

to help me out tomorrow,

I'll let you in on my plan.

What plan?

Where'd you get these?

That's not important.

You stole them from the

factory, didn't you?

I have fourteen of these bags.

If we sold them for,

let's say, 40 a piece,

we could earn

560.

Can I keep one for myself?

Okay, fine. Which one?

This one.

400 bags for just 40.

Buy colorful, quality bags.

Buy brand new bags!

- Buy colorful bags!

- Quality bags!

Would you like to buy a bag?

400 bags for just 40.

Want a bag?

No one's biting.

Maybe they don't need bags?

Aren't they any good?

I like them.

Let's try shouting louder?

Brand new bag for just 40!

400 bags for just 40!

Anuja!

Brand new bags for just 40.

Brand new bag for just 400

Brand new bag for just 400!

Uncle, brand new

bags for just 400?

Brand new bag for just 400!

How about a brand new

bag for just 400, ma'am?

Oh, these look quite nice.

How much are they?

400 a piece.

Let me look at

them for a second.

Oh, I like these colors.

I'll take these two.

Two for 800, right?

E excuse me! What's

going on here, madam?

Just a second.

- Hey, child, how'd you get in here?

- One second! One second!

Madam, please stop.

Sir, it's a matter

of two minutes.

- And you shouldn't treat a child this way.

- These kinds can't... Hey!

Security!

Where the hell have you

been? Get a hold of her!

You lazy bum! You do nothing

but sit around all day!

Grab her!

Now will you tell me?

Look, it's better

if you don't know.

The point is that

you got the money,

and I get to enjoy

some tasty jalebis!

Please! It's k*lling me!

Trust me. Just leave it alone!

Okay, look. I'll make a deal.

I will tell you

on one condition.

You have to promise to

take that exam on Tuesday.

No.

Fine. Then I'm not telling.

Please. I'm begging you.

I told you. The answer is no.

Not until you promise

to take the exam.

Fine.

Okay, hold this.

When I cut cloth for dresses,

I keep the larger

pieces on one side.

And as soon as the floor

manager looks away

I quickly slip them

down, onto my lap.

It's there, under the table,

that I do all the stitching.

I can complete an entire

bag in less than a day.

But how do you sneak

them out of the factory?

Our bags are inspected every

night as we exit the factory.

Right?

Exactly.

But I don't always bring a bag

to the factory in the morning.

- So?

- So, the floor manager only inspects

the contents inside the bag.

But not the bag itself!

So it never occurs to him

that you're stealing the bag!

Stealing?

I'm not stealing anything.

I make these from the

leftover material.

From useless scraps

they just throw out.

You make something

out of nothing.

Yep!

And I still get more work done

than most of the other girls.

My hardworking sis!

The hard work has left

your sis hungry for sweets!

Pass the jalebis.

Here.

You have 'em.

No, no. I promise, sir.

It won't happen again.

Just give me till

tomorrow, okay?

I will give you

the exact amount.

Thank you. Thank you.

Wait a minute.

That teacher guy who

was here the other day,

that arrogant prick. Remember?

Mr. Mishra?

He was telling me you're

some kind of math wizard.

Is that so?

You're Palak's

little sister, right?

Yeah, you're the one he blabbered

on about. So, are you clever or not?

I see.

Now pay attention.

Right now, I have 24 girls

working here in my factory. Okay?

Each girl works

14 hours per day.

Say it takes each girl 30

minutes to produce one item.

Now, you tell me,

in seven days, how many items

will I be able to produce?

Four thousand six

hundred and twenty-two.

Really?

Pretty damn close,

but not quite.

Okay, back to work.

Sir, won't the girls be given their

regular 15-minute break each day?

To eat or use the toilet?

Tomorrow and every

Tuesday onwards,

I want you to come to

my office at 8:00 a.m.

Not on the floor. Come

straight to my office!

I've got special

work for you here.

And it pays handsomely.

There's nothing to consider.

If you don't show,

then you and your sister can

find work somewhere else.

Understood?

You'll be a smart

little girl, right?

Won't you?

Tomorrow morning,

straight to my office!

Okay, go.

Palak.

- Palak!

- Hm?

What is boarding school?

Boarding school is a place where

all smart girls go to study.

What if I don't want

to be a smart girl?

That's not exactly a choice.

I mean, how will

I even get there?

You don't go there.

You live there.

That's what boarding

school means.

And you'll live there, too?

No. It doesn't work that way.

Then what will happen to you?

Don't worry about me.

Soon, I'll be promoted to

Sewing Machine Operator.

- And then...

- But what about Mr. Verma?

Forget about the factory owner!

Those bags

I'm no dummy!

I know that was meant

to be for your wedding,

not for some stupid exam.

Don't say that!

You don't get it.

You're not cut out to

just work at a factory.

It's fine for someone like me.

But you

Mom would have

wanted this for you.

Now get some sleep, okay.

I've put the money

in your back pocket.

Good luck on the exam.

I'll be thinking of you, okay?

Namaste, namaste.

Ready for the exam?

EXAMINATION SESSION - 2022