Chapter 4

*Kanika Pov*

“You can do better than that.” Someone mumbled from my side and I nodded before removing the sheet and started drawing again.

“You don’t have the genius kind of talent but definitely do hard work more than my regular employees. I can hire you as one after your graduation.” She continued while I didn’t reply to that suggestion.

“Is it fine?” I asked showing the portrait.

“Fine! You can take your payment for today. I have some work for you tomorrow also. Be here by six in the morning so that we can adjust your class along with the work you need to do.” Saying that she passed the cash.

“Thank you for offering the job but I don’t want to become an artist.” I explained after contemplating for a second.

“In your circumstances, can you become what you actually want to?” She asked staring at me.

“I can always try.” I whispered walking out of the small shop in the street that is near to my college.

I continued to hold the money in my hand as I will be passing this as the one I earned for this whole month to my Dad. The pay is more and he will accept it for sure as he knows I am attending college too along with working.

“I will be leaving the city and will not come back. You just fend for yourself.” I felt a sense of relief hearing those words but his next words shocked me.

“I am selling the room completely by next week.” He added checking the amount I had just given him.

“Then, where can I live?” I asked to which he didn’t even pay any attention.

“You are even taking my money. How can I fend for myself?” this time I raised my voice and he turned to glance at me.

“You are already eighteen and you can live anywhere you want. And don’t raise your voice again before me.” Giving out that warning he left the place while I just stood there feeling lost.

Until now, this room was helping me to not think about any kind of accommodation to find while he leaves for any work but now I don’t have a roof over me.

I rubbed my forehead thinking about what to do within a week but didn’t get any solution even after an hour. I sighed taking my bag and left the place to not be late for college.

“Why are you late today?” Anitha asked in a whisper after I sat beside her.

We both ended up joining the same college much to her happiness as she always wished we study at the same place. And we both took this course just because we can join for fewer fees.

Both of us are not interested but have to study hard to get the fee reduce a bit more for next year.

“Problem!” I whispered to which she nodded whispering, “Me too!”

I frowned hearing that and immediately glanced at her but she shook her head and wrote on my book saying we will talk after class.

“What? They want you to leave?” I asked in a shocked tone.

“Yeah! I will be eighteen within a month and they can’t let me stay any longer and asked me to find some other place.” She explained and asked about my problem.

I calmly explained what happened this morning and she immediately muttered, “That bastard!”

“You need to control your words, Anitha. You want to become a celebrity remember?” I asked while looking around.

“I am thinking of just giving up this modeling. It is better if I follow you to work at some places.” I frowned hearing those words.

“Do you think I would go around for these part-time jobs for the past many years if I have another option? You have the talent and I know you are not getting any work immediately but you are already doing one part-time work. Concentrate on your dream.” She smiled before laying down her head on the desk.

“Then what about yours?” I didn’t have any reply to those words right now.

“Let’s solve the problem first. Why don’t you ask the head again to let you stay? You can even offer some money.” I mumbled and she shook her head.

“New kids are filling up and they don’t have proper facilities for the ones of my age anymore.” I rubbed my forehead feeling worst more than the morning after hearing those words.

“Let’s take a room together. I can manage the rent.” I offered after a few minutes and she stared at me wide-eyed.

“Isn’t that your wish for us to stay together? We can do that now.” I added and she immediately smiled but her smile didn’t last for a second.

“Where can we get money? I will have enough for the deposit but for later months it will be…” I cut her off by holding her hand.

“Don’t worry about the rent and all we need to do is take care of ourselves as we will be staying alone.” I stated and she reluctantly nodded.

After college, we rushed towards the surrounding area to find a room for cheaper rent. But we need to care for the safety too as it will be just two of us.

Within two hours, we found one and I paid off the deposit using the card. The first thing I did after my birthday is open a bank account. I can’t hide my money from him if I hide it with me but I can hide the card properly.

So, keep some money aside to give him whenever he asks so that I can escape any kind of beatings, I ended up saving every other penny.

“The money with you will be safe. So, we will keep it for now and buy the things we need. For now, I will continue to stay with him until he leaves so that he will not know where I am staying.” I explained walking towards the restaurant with her.

“Okay! I saved a lot and so we can manage for a few months but need to think for later.” She mumbled sighing.

“Who knows? If you get good work for modeling, you will become famous and need not worry about money.” I mumbled and she smiled nodding.

“However, don’t take just any kind of job. Your goal is not just to do a few modeling works now but to become an actor.” I added and she leaned over to drop her head on my shoulder.

“If not for you then I wouldn’t have been confident with this dream at all.” She whispered and I shook my head at her words.

I didn’t do anything like she is always mentioning. Just that a few years back, after watching a show on the television, she decided on being an actor.

However, she ended up getting teased by a few kids in the orphanage, and when she complained all I said was if she can’t achieve something that she wishes for then no one in this world can achieve it.

She is stubborn to the core and kind-hearted and deserves everything. So, why wouldn’t she achieve her dream?

“When I become an actor, I will wear the dresses you design and we both will be successful.” She sighed dreamily and I shook her as we reached the entrance.

“For now go and change your attire. I need to go to the kitchen.” She nodded changing into the attire of the waitress while I changed into the cleaning attire.

After cleaning the needed utensils I started with the chopping and continued to glace at the chef’s cooking.

The chef is a good person as he somethings teaches me a few things when he is free and I watch a few things by myself.

“This is fine, chef?” I asked showing the pieces of the carrot.

“Okay! You already got better at chopping. After a few days, you may even become my assistant.” He joked and I didn’t say anything before returning to the chopping.

I want to learn all this not because I have any interest or wish to be in this profession. This is just for survival as if I am thrown away from this place then I can find another one while showing better capabilities and get a better job.

****

“You need not drop me every day, Kani. You are worried about me but I am also worried about you.” Anitha claimed but I ignored her and waved at her.

“Just a week and you will be dropping me too.” Saying that I walked away to reach the shop near my house.

“Why are you late today? You even took leave for the evening.” The owner grumbled while I continued to apologize and sat behind the sewing machine.

“Finish all these falls for the sarees today before leaving. Then I will teach you the next stitching method tomorrow.” Saying that she walked towards the other sewing machine.

In silence, I worked on the sarees and after two hours, I finished all before reaching her side.

“You can leave!” she stated without glancing up.

“I wanted to ask whether I can increase my working hours.” I mumbled and she finally glanced up.

“This is just a small shop and I don’t get much work to do only. For your Mom’s sake, I allowed you to work here and even teach you a few things. That’s all I can do and you can find more work at other places.” She stated and I fisted my hands hearing her saying that it is because of my Mom.

I can’t show any anger as I was the one who emotionally asked her to allow me to work here as she was my Mom’s friend. I took advantage of that by myself and I can’t be angry at that at the same time.

“Thank you!” saying that I walked away and rubbed my neck feeling stiff with all that stitching but started thinking of the shops I saw near the room Anitha and I rented today.

If it is near to the room it will be safer too and it will be time-saving. However, I need to continue to work here to learn a few more things.

I laid down closing my eyes while trying to sleep as I have drawing class in the morning. At least this is also near to the college and also near to the room. I sighed and drifted off into sleep.

****

It’s been a week and we have both already shifted to the new room. Anitha and I tried to buy only the needed things and arranged everything while I took away a few things from the room after my Dad left the city.

From kitchen utensils to cupboards, I nearly cleaned out the room before shifting everything to the one we rented.

However, now the problem is to find another job as even though I assured Anitha, it will be a problem for us to bear the rent within a month as we need to care for daily needs also.

“Did you hear about the competition?” Anitha asked reaching my side after talking to other classmates.

“What?” I asked checking the book for the next class.

“There is a competition within a month and there will be a cash prize.” I frowned turning to glance at her.

“It’s not any weird competition but a talent show. The cash prize is not much but it will help us to pay four months of rent.” She stated in an excited tone.

“Don’t worry about that prize and just participate.” I mumbled smiling at her but she shook her head.

“Where will we get clothes and all? I got excited for a second and what can I do alone in this competition?” she sighed leaning back.

I stared at her for a second before saying, “You can dance and act in a small skit on your own. I will manage clothes for you.”

“Don’t be silly! How can I let you do that? I know nothing is easy to get outside. Just because I have been living in the orphanage doesn’t mean I don’t know what is it like outside.” She frowned at me while I smiled.

“I am not doing this for you. If we can get that money then will it not help both of us? I can take a few months to rest too.” I pointed out but she still has a reluctant expression.

“Fine! I will get the clothes and it is your choice to perform or not. I know I am asking too much of you by making you perform as it is a hard job but I hope you can do it for my sake.” I turned the words around and she immediately hit my shoulder.

“Stop doing it!” I whispered rubbing my shoulder but didn’t stop smiling at her.

She finally accepted and started thinking about what to do and didn’t wish to add another classmate as then we would be needing to share the money.

And so I became her assistant, manager, and everything else. I managed to get the waste clothes that the aunty in the tailoring shop will not use anymore and started stitching it but made sure to check it with aunty so that there will be no mistake while Anitha wears it.

Finally, she was able to work hard on the performance and we both reached the hall to participate. Many reached the hall to see her performance too.

She has always been popular with other kids from the time she was small and even now but I just stay in the back as if not for her, I don’t want to talk to anyone else.

“All the best!” I whispered smiling at her.

“What if I don’t win?” she asked looking at me with a scared expression.

“We are doing this to win?” I asked back and she frowned hearing that.

“Of course!” she stated while I shook my head before pointing at the people.

“This will be your debut in acting. Go and just enjoy. I have already planned about the rent as I mentioned before when we were taking the room.” I assured her while she just stared at me in silence.

“Go!” I mumbled and she hugged me before walking towards the auditorium stage while I stood back.

I have already seen what other contestants were participating in and know well that she wouldn’t get the first prize as they were all in groups and even talented. She is also talented but without proper guidance, there will be limits.

****

“Why are you sad?” I asked when she continued to walk towards the room in silence without saying a word.

“When will I be able to help you?” she asked back and I smiled shaking my head.

“I mean, we both are of the same age but I always feel childish before you.” She mumbled and I couldn’t help but laugh at that.

“Who told you that a person should act like this and that based on their age? Everyone is different and I feel you are mature in your own way and helped me in the past and still doing it even now. If not for you, I wouldn’t have thought about living my life properly and having a dream to pursue. I would have just continued to live life as it will end in a day.” I pointed out and she held my hand sighing.

“I should have won at least third prize.” She mumbled and I tugged her hand hearing those words.

“You didn’t hear everyone cheering for you when you finished the performance? Now, all you need to do is work more to do better as you already finished your debut.” She smiled nodding and turned the topic towards the winner saying how well they were singing and the whole dance group who won the second prize were also so good.

The next morning, I reached the drawing class and met the teacher before cleaning the area to have a word with her.

“I will work for longer hours here. Will I get more pay? I will even work on weekends.” I added staring at her.

“Before that tell me why do you want to learn drawing?” she asked folding her arms.

“I want to be a designer and for that, I am learning everything that is needed. This is a part of it and I don’t want to be lacking in this department.” I explained honestly and she is the second person I told about my dream.

“Note down your college timings and your other part-time job timings. Based on that I will add the hours that you need to work here and also learn at the same time.” She passed a notepad and I sighed in relief before noting down everything.

“Okay! You can work for two more hours in the morning and two more at night. Your pay will be tripled if you end up adding those four hours. However, you will be needing to work more intensely as I just got new projects and will be working on them and I need your help.” She stated and I immediately agreed.

She asked me to go back to cleaning as the class will start soon and she will draw up a contract by tomorrow.

“It will be for two years. Will it be fine?” she suddenly asked and I froze for a second before nodding.

“Okay!” saying that she turned back to her work while I calmly walked out of her cabin.

It’s okay! It will anyway need two years for me to graduate and by that time I can save a lot of money. I smiled at that thought and finally started cleaning while thinking about what we did in yesterday’s class.