"Mom!" "That sound of water..." "So annoying." "Mom!" "Mom!" "Mom!" "Will you turn off that alarm?" "Please?" "Abhi!" "Wake up, dear." "It's long past dawn!" "It's the first day of school year." "Get there on time at least today." "From tomorrow, you'll be late anyway." "Please, dear." "Who's a good girl!" "Wake up!" "My sweetheart!" "My darling!" "You must wake up now." "Wake u- Oh no!" "Half a litre milk has gone to waste!" "Abhi!" "You're testing my patience." "Will you wake up or not?" "Abhi, wake up." "You've slept enough." "Abhi..." "Don't just go straight to school." "Take a shower and pray to God before leaving." "Only He can save you." "She just won't budge!" "Abhi!" "I've packed your lunch here." "Don't forget to put it in your bag." "What's for lunch?" " Brinjal gravy." "Brinjal?" "On my first day?" "No potatoes?" "The holidays are over." "My agony begins." "Okay, sweetheart." "Bunk school and eat potatoes all year." "Look at your hair!" "So messy." "Here, take this." "Just ten rupees?" "But I'm a big girl now!" "You've not become a big girl!" "You've become a big slob." "Here, keep this." "Why did you name me 'Abhinaya'?" " Why not?" "My name begins with 'A'." "It comes early in the roll call." "If my namehad begun in 'Z', I could've gone ten minutes later." "Okay." "Then change your name to 'Zandu Balm'." "Be safe!" "And hurry up." "Don't go back to bed!" "Devi, I did wake up Abhi, but I don't trust her." "She'll go back to sleep." "Wake her up?" " Okay, Shanthi." "I will." "O kind, merciful Godess!" "Abhi is starting her 10th grade this year." "You must save her!" "Okay?" "Please, please save her!" "Bless me, always!" "Good morning, ma'am!" "You're here?" "You're never late!" "What's this?" "You're always doing something new!" "Exercising is good for the body and the mind." "It'll help me get through the day." "You've got me to help you get through the day!" "Bring me my fruits!" " Okay, ma'am!" "Susi!" "How were your holidays?" " Real fun!" "Look over there." "The headmaster is staring at us." " What a grumpus!" "The National Pledge." " The National Pledge." "India is my country." " India is my country." "All Indians are my brothers and sisters." "Where's Vicky?" " He usually comes around this time." "I love my country." " I love my country." "And I'm proud of it's rich and varied heritage." "And I'm proud of it's rich and varied heritage." "Hello, girls!" " Welcome back." "I'll get it." "Has Abhi left for school?" " Yeah." "She must have." "Don't know what will happen to that child." "See?" "I'm so stressed about her, my hair is turning grey." "What can I do?" "Anyway, what shall I make for breakfast?" "Let's try a new combination." "One carrot, half a beetroot, one cucumber and half a gourd." "Add pomogranate, mint and coriander leaves." "Blend and filter it." "Cut a piece of lemon." "And make your ragi potpourri, too." "I don't like gourd." " I won't serve it to you." "Gourd is good for the health." "Good morning, sir." "Why is our headmaster here?" "He'll be teaching us maths this year." "Maths is such a pain already." "And now we have to deal with him, too?" "Double-pain!" "Look at that." "Look!" "He's like a calculator." " And his battery is fully charged!" "Dear students." "Welcome to 10th grade!" "You've all worked very hard to get to this 10th grade." "It's like a small baby, has grown up to be a big person." "The results of your 10th grade examination will determine your whole future." "One who wins the race called Life..." " Is like the horse!" "And the loser who is left behind..." " Is like the donkey!" "Every second, every minute of this year is a great treasure to you." "One who utilises this precious treasure, will be a gallopping horse." "And he who fails to use it, will be a donkey." "Do you want to be a horse or a donkey?" " A horse!" "A horse!" "A horse!" " A horse!" "A horse!" "Say it louder!" " A horse!" "Who was that donkey?" "You, little devil!" "50 ml oil." "But it doesn't say which oil!" "You can't make good pickle with recipe from books!" "Why?" " Because... my granny told me." "Ask your granny to make me pickles, then." " That's what I'm here for." ""Care for the tender mind;" "As though it were a child"" "Turn on that switch." ""The world must sing praise- Of the purity, of the perfection"" ""Care for the tender mind;" "As though it were a child"" ""The world must sing praise- Of the purity, of the perfection"" ""Believe in yourself, always;" "Don't give up, don't you ever give up!" "'" "Abhi..." "How was first day at school?" " Nothing new." "Same old classroom." "Same old books." "Same classroom and books?" "You didn't sit in the 10th grade classroom?" "I was sitting in the 10th classroom." "It's the same classroom." "But we have loads of books this year!" "Of course, dear." "But you had new teachers?" " Yes." "Oh yes." "We have Actor Vijay for mathematics and Actor Ajith for physics." "Loudmouth!" ""We have dreams, you and I;" "Till we realise them, we shall fight"" ""The dreams of poor may never happen;" "But hope keeps you marching on"" ""In this journey, you'll face hurdles, too;" "The lessons you learn will guide you through"" ""Oh dream!" "You are everyone's mother;" "Your warm embrace makes the load feel lighter"" "Mom?" "Before daddy died in the accident... what did he do for a living?" "Why do you ask?" "You know Vicky?" "He's going to be a driver, just like his father." "He's set for life." "Good for him." "Is becoming a driver a big deal?" "Your daddy's dream was that you'd study ahead and be a successful person!" "He worked day and night for that." "Poor man." "It's fate." "What do you want to be, Abhi?" "Ma'am!" "Coffee..." "What have you made?" " Just put something together." "Just something?" "Superb!" "Can I ask you something?" "Does it cost a lot of money to become a doctor or an engineer?" "It wasn't that way back in my time." "Or I wouldn't have become a doctor." "But these days, education has become a business." "You need a minimum of 50 or 100 thousand." "In some colleges, even if you pay 30-50 hundred, you can't get an admission." "It's terrible!" "I'll see you later!" "Who gave these sweets?" "Auntie Chandhra gave it." "Her son has got a job as a poen in the government." "They're throwing a party at their home tomorrow." "It's just a poen's job!" "They're throwing a party?" "Mom!" "It's a government job!" "He'll make 8,000 rupees a month!" "Her son's life is set now." "Auntie Chandhra was so happy." "Abhi..." "Abhi!" "Abhi!" "What do you want to be?" "Tell me, dear!" "You must have something in mind." "It's obvious." "Tell me, then." "What do you want to be?" "I'm going to become a house-maid." "What did you say?" "A house-maid." "Look, mom." "An engineer's son becomes an engineer." "A doctor's son shall become a doctor." "How could a house-maid's daughter be anything but a house-maid?" "Simple!" "I'll slap you!" "Abhi, I save money by eating half a meal, shuttle so many jobs, just to give you education." "And you want to become a maid?" "Do you know what a maid does?" "I didn't say anything wrong." " I'll slap you." "Such a nag!" "Mom!" "Mom!" "Mom, it's not like maids can't have a good future." "You know these rich people who hire women to look after their kids?" "They won't call me a maid." "They'll call me Abhi, and it'll be cool!" "It'll be cool, huh?" "Look..." "I don't want to hear you talking about becoming a maid one more time." "Okay?" "You can't do a single chore at home, and you'll become a maid?" "Get to school!" "Kids don't even have the freedom to choose their own careers!" "We promised to send Lakshmi and Ravikanth their oil." "Have you sent it?" "We'll send it in the afternoon." "You've become so lazy, Shankaran!" "Ma'am, your juice." "Thank you!" "Sir." " Leave it there." "Cut these." "What are you making today?" " A special, herbal oil." "It'll make your hair grow thick and dark!" "What?" "Something bothering you?" "Why do you say that?" " It's written all over your face." "It's Abhi." "She says she wants to become a maid." "What?" "A maid?" "Why would she say that?" "Because I'm a maid." " Great." "She says an engineer's kid will become an engineer." "A doctor's kid will become a doctor." "And she's a house-maid's daughter." "So she, too, shall become one." "Then Dr. Abdul Kalam would've become a fisherman." "His dad was a fisherman." "What did he become though?" "First, he became a great scientist." "Then, the President of India." "Know what "president" means?" "Of course, she does." "You grind it." "Abdul Kalam?" "What does he look like?" "He has long hair!" "You must have seen him on T.V." "Like Actor Vikram from the movie "Anniyan"?" "It was a fashion statement back then." "All the boys got their hair styled like that." "But my husband was never into all that." "But this girl, that's all she cares about!" "Bring me the basil leaves." "In order to be successful, one must either be fortunate or be hardworking." "Had she been fortunate, she'd not have been born into a poor family." "That is true." "So, hardwork is the only option." "Tell her that only hardwork can lead to success." "That's not happening." "She doesn't even take the effort to study." "At this rate, she'll surely fail 10th grade." "Shanthi..." "She needs to pass her 10th examination." "Somehow." "I've seen so many kids..." "After they fail the 10th, they discontinue education." "Wasn't that the case with you?" "Ma'am!" " Hey..." "Shanthi!" "I was just thinking about you." "Why won't your daughter study?" "Do you think she might be dyslexic?" "No such thing." "She is smart." "She does okay in every subject." "This mathematics is the real villian." "Don't know why." "She just doesn't get it." "Maths is an old foe to many girls." "We'll get her a tutor for maths?" "What do you think?" "Don't worry about the money." "I know one Prof. Rajasekar." "He takes tuition classes." "I'll talk to him." "Okay?" " Okay, ma'am!" "But then..." "We should still test her for dyscalculia..." "Better that way." "Come on!" "Prof. Rajasekar?" " Straight down, and room to the left." "Nandini madam sent you?" " Yes, sir." "What was your daughter's score in 9th grade?" "RAJASEKAR:" "Let that be." "SHANTHI: 47%, sir..." "What was her score in mathematics?" "Maths?" "She just about passed, sir." "But in all other subjects..." "Would you like some tea?" " No." "Look, Shanthi." "This is how coaching classes work..." "We give a discount to children who score over 75% percent." "Sir, but aren't coaching classes meant for kids who don't score well?" "That is correct." "But coaching classes need to show good results." "Only bright students help us achieve that." "As they're bright, they don't need much help." "Which is why we give them a discount." "I'll give you a special discount, as Nandini Madam has sent you." "If your daughter scores well in the half-yearly exams, I'll give 50% discount." "Okay?" "Thank you, sir." "Mom!" "Hello, Shanthi." "Sit down." "See you later!" "I'm slogging all day to put you through school." "And you're chilling and dancing like The Queen." "Why didn't you come home in the afternoon?" "I had to make Maggi on my own." "Abhi, are you listening?" "I'm going to break that T.V. now!" "Always glued in..." "Is this your life?" "You're saying the same thing everyday!" "Abhi, listen up." "Ma'am has found a tuition centre for you." "Maths tuition!" "I met the teacher today." "He says..." "I only need to pay half the fees." "But you need to score above 50% in the half-yearly examinations." "You must!" "I don't care how, but you must." "Got it?" "Mom, are you crazy?" "Why should I score more than 50%?" "Even if I do pass, do you have the money to put me through college?" "I'm going to become a maid anyway, why should I study hard and pass?" "Talk about being a maid one more time, and I'll burn your tongue!" "You're calling me crazy?" "You need to mind your words." "Idiot!" "Get lost." " Where do you learn all this?" "You go to school, but you don't learn manners." "Why won't she study?" "Is she worried about the money?" "Money is not the issue." "Scoring more than 50% in the exam is a huge ordeal for her." "The way things are going, I think she'll fail." "I saw her maths notebook yesterday, I couldn't understand anything!" "I used to understand something earlier." "But now it's all in English." "If I could understand, I'd have taught her." "But I am so bad at maths!" "It's like pot calling the kettle black." "Meaning?" " That's a proverb." "What if you were given the chance to study again?" "You'll teach me?" "I'm like you." "I'm terrible at mathematics." "What can I do?" "I've been hit by one misfortune after another." "My God..." "Will you go to school?" "Will you go to school?" "Sure, let's both go." "We'll go to school and make fun of all the teachers." "I'm not joking." "I'm serious." "Will you go?" "What would I go to school for?" " To make pickle." "To study, of course!" "And get her to study, too." "No." "This won't work out." "This is not some movie." "It's life!" "Then why do you worry and crib?" "At least cribbing doesn't cost money." "Besides, who will take me in at this age?" "You need not worry about that." "Will you go to school?" "Shanthi!" "Come on." "It'll be so embarrassing to go to school at this age." "If Abhi ends up a house-maid..." "wouldn't that be embarrassing?" "Schools work till afternoon." "Which means I'll be late for my job at the mill by one hour." "And there's the fishery, too." "I'll get delayed there by an hour!" "They'll chop me up like a fish!" "Why do you use so many pins?" "Shanthi, how do I look?" " Ma'am..." "If I go to school now, for the uniform, books and fees, I'll need for money." "I'm coming!" "Don't forget to lock the doors and windows on your way out." "Mom?" "Is something wrong?" "Why?" "Normally, you constantly pick on me." "But the house is quiet now." "So I was wondering..." "Ma'am!" "Where are we going?" "Be patient." "It's Abhi's school!" "Why have you brought me here?" "There are so many schools in the city." "I feel it's better that you study in Abhi's school." "Let's go." "Ma'am!" "Let's not do this." "Abhi will kill me." "Let's just leave." "Look, private schools are more expensive." "Besides..." "If you study in her school, her class, she will behave." "You can understand her problem." "Okay?" "That's true." "But..." "Ma'am!" "Ma'am, whom are meeting?" "The headmaster." "Come on." "Greetings, Doctor." "Sit down." " Greetings." "You needn't have bothered!" "You could have just sent the student." "It's a delicate situation..." " No problem." "Just call the student." "I'll talk to them." "Who?" " The student..." "Shanthi!" "Shanthi, come here." "This is Shanthi." "What's your surname?" "G. Shanthi Gopal." " Yes, Shanthi Gopal..." "Greetings, sir." "Greetings." "So you want an admission for your child?" "Which class?" "The 10th... 10th grade?" "But that is..." "But it's the year of board exams." " So?" "Where did they study the 9th grade?" "The Government High School for Girls, Pallavaram." "I think it's in Kanchipuram district..." "It's been too long." " No problem." "Have a seat." "I'll do my best." "Is it for your son or daughter?" "It's not for her son or her daughter." " Then?" "We want an admission for her." " Huh?" "For her?" " Yes." "Here?" "We want an admission here, for her, for the 10th grade." "She wants to study in this school?" " Yes." "10th grade?" " Yes!" "Along with the kids?" "Yes, Ranganathan sir!" "That won't happen." " Why?" "You tell me why." "There are many schools for adults." "She could study there." "I'll help her." "No!" "She must study here." "What's so special about this school?" "Abhi." " Abhi?" "Abhinaya Gopal." "She's my daughter." "Oh, that girl from 10th grade." "A complete dim-wit." "She's a terrible student." "Even I can't make her study." "I know, sir." "But what can I do?" "I am her mother." "Even if the child is a dim-wit, a mother can't love her less." "Nor can I give up on her." "Tuition centres are very expensive." "Even they refuse to take in dull students." "So I was thinking, I'll go to school and teach her." "You'll have one less dull student to deal with, right?" "I won't tell anyone that I'm her mother." "I won't let it show." "I promise." "I understand your thoughts." "I can." "But madam, there are government rules..." "Ranganathan!" " Yes, madam?" "Isn't this your interview?" "With your photograph?" " Yes, madam!" "It was taken a few days back." "Even your government says that the future of the country lies in women empowerment." "I agree." " You agree?" "Then you should take this up as an experiment and do it!" "Can do it." " Good!" "But I need to speak to the higher officials first." "Can I make a phonecall?" "Your office." "Your phone." "Go ahead!" " You won't disconnect it?" "I won't." "No, it worked out fine." "The headmaster agreed." "I'll come and explain in detail." "What's wrong?" "What would Abhi say?" " Are you crazy?" "Your brain is rotting." "Did you even think about me?" "My friends would mock me!" "How did the headmaster take you in?" "It's not like he owns the school." "Look, mom." "If you join, I will quit school." "Who gave you this wretched idea?" "Okay, so you want me to study?" "I will study." "I will score well in the next test." "Please, mom." "Don't come to school." "My friends would laugh at me!" "They'll mock me!" "Please, mom." "Don't come to school!" "Please!" "Okay, I won't." "I won't watch T.V." "I won't go out to play." "I'll study all the time." "I'm going to study." "Right now." "I will study right now!" "Go." "Go, study!" "I'm going." "I'm going to study now." ""Will these dreams bear fruit?" "Will our time come?"" ""Don't dwell in the past, it's dark out there;"" ""Nothing can change the past!"" ""Will these dreams bear fruit?" "Will our time come?"" "Looking for somebody?" ""Better late than never"." "Today, you will see a living example of the proverb." "Come in." "Come!" "Who is this?" "This is your new classmate." "Shanthi Gop..." "Shanthi Gopalan!" "Will you help her?" " We will, sir." "Do you want to be donkeys or horses?" " Horses!" "Please have a seat." "Women do household work at this age." "She's come to study English, maths and Tamil!" "Auntie, move over." "I can't see the blackboard." "Sit here." "Abhi!" "Where were you?" "I've been waiting here for so long." "What do you care?" "Abhi, I'm doing this for you." "Why won't you understand this?" "Oh, you're here!" "So, how was first day at school?" "Oh, don't get me started on that." "All the kids stare and mock at me." "They look at me like I'm a thief." "I've never felt so humilated in my life." "Let that be." "Were you able to follow the lessons?" "The other subjects are okay." "But maths..." "I'd kill the guy who invented maths!" "I just don't get it." "The maths class seems to never end." "I don't understand anything." "Now I know where Abhi gets it from." "Oh her..." "She wouldn't even look at me." "I'm scared to even go near her." "I don't know who's the parent and who the daughter." "Do you find maths really easy?" "I don't find maths easy." "I find it interesting." "Vicky, you tell me." "I'll tell you when I've solved it, sir." " That takes hard work." "And you hate hard work." "You'll score a hat-trick in matriculation!" ""This maths is a horror show;" "I can't remember a single thing!"" ""I try to speed up, I try to score!" "But the result is always zero."" ""Who invented mathematics?" "Why would he do this to students?"" ""Alpha, beta is nonsense." "Trignometry is killing me!"" ""How did Newton and Einstein Ever manage?"" ""Oh I try, I try to pick up." "But I get stuck up, man!"" "Why don't you bring lunch?" "There's no one at home to pack my lunch." "Why have you come to school now?" "There's no one at home to teach me." ""Mommy and baby in the same class." "We're a superb combination"" ""Competing in education;" "It's a tough, tough, tough combination"" ""Gotta pity my situation;" "I don't get this equation"" ""I study all time, but confusion;" "The only thing rising is my tension!"" ""How I hate this examination;" "And this pass-mark fixation"" ""I'm no good at calculation;" "Causing the students frustration"" "I've packed for both of us." "Why?" "Do you feel sorry for me?" "It's fine if you don't want it." "Fine, let's make a deal." "I don't want free food." "I'll teach you maths in exchange for food." "Why?" "Do you feel sorry for me?" ""Wherever I go, it follows me." "Maths is the devil!"" ""It makes me sick and so exhausted." "Maths is a disease!"" ""On one hand, life is jolly;" "On the other, there's the maths rally"" ""When will both these things tally?"" "I'm your mother!" "Don't try to be my father." ""This maths is a horror show;" "I can't remember a single thing!"" ""I try to speed up, I try to score!" "But the result is always zero."" ""Who invented mathematics?" "Why would he do this to students?"" ""Alpha, beta is nonsense." "Trignometry is killing me!"" ""How did Newton and Einstein Ever manage?"" "How you sow, so you reap." "Similarly, sin θ divided by cos θ, equals tan θ." "Compare maths to our everyday problems." "Then it will become interesting." "Okay?" "The glass lands on the floor with a "TUNG"!" "sec^2 θ - tan^2 θ...." "equals one!" "sec^2 θ - tan^2 θ..." "Is equal to what?" "Who knows the answer?" "Shanthi, answer the question!" "sec^2 θ - tan^2 θ..." "The glass lands on the floor with a "TUNG"!" "sec^2 θ - tan^2 θ... is equal to..." "ONE!" "Huh?" "Sir, it's one." "Correct!" "One." "Clap for Shanthi." "I'm Susi." "This is Vicky." "She is Abhinaya." "Abhi, come here." "Why are you standing there?" "You surprised that grumpy teacher!" "Anbu taught me." "You know what?" "Even Abhi's last name is Gopal." "Is it?" " Yes." "Abhi, what are you doing?" "Can't you tell?" "I'm eating lunch." "What's for lunch?" "Enough!" " Why?" "That's enough." "Go away!" "Want some of this?" " Yes." "Wow." "Both your lunches taste the same." "How's that?" "Don't you know?" ""Consistency in taste and smell..." "Aachi Masala!"" "Where do you live?" "Saidapet." "Oh, Abhi lives there, too." "You need to go further down from Saidapet." "Your ambition is to become a driver?" "You'll have to work under someone else all your life!" "You could buy your own car!" "Think about it." "I have it perfectly planned." " Yeah, right." "I can tell that you haven't." "Susi, if you study and become successful, people will look upto you." "We shouldn't follow anyone." " Even on Twitter?" "Twitter?" " There's Facebook, selfies and dubsmash, too." "Abhi, come on!" "You're ruining my life!" "I'll ruin yours." " Sir, it hurts!" "I'm proud of two students from our class." "First, Shanthi Gopal." "She started studying late, but managed to pick up really fast." "Keep it up!" "Next, Abhinaya." "Come here, madam!" "I was right about Abhinaya." "She's picking up fast, too." "Only, in reverse." "First, it was 30." "Then 20." "Now it's 10." "Where are you headed?" "You'll do Aryabhatta proud by scoring a ZERO!" "I'm worried." "I feel very sad for you." "Abhi!" "Abhi!" "Stop, Abhi." " Let go!" "Just wait." "Are you satisfied now?" "You must have been so happy at school!" "Everyone was insulting me and you were laughing!" "No, Abhi." "I did not laugh!" "I promise." "No!" "I saw you laughing." "Everyone was laughing." "Had you scored well, no one would laugh at you." "Save your preaching for Vicky and Susi." "Not me." "You said you are coming to school for my sake." "But now you're acting like some star!" "You're a maid." "A house-maid!" "That's all you are." "Oh!" "Is that right?" "So you don't mind that you failed." "You're worried that a maid has scored well." "That's nice." "You took my friends away!" " I didn't." "They're ashamed to hang out with you." "You think you're the only one who can score?" "I can't?" "You cannot." "Or you would have done it by now." "Or you wouldn't make me pay fees for both of us!" "Then just quit!" "You'll keep failing, and I'm supposed to quit school?" "Will you quit if I pass?" "No." "Score more than me in maths." "Then we'll see." "I will score more than you in maths in the half-yearly exams." "That's Abhi's challenge." "I will put you in your place." "Aarthi!" " Yes, sir!" "Abhirami!" " Yes, sir!" "Aakash!" " Yes, sir." "Abhinaya." " Yes, sir!" "Bharath." " Yes, sir." "The radius of a circular running track is 49 metres." "What is the total circumference of the running track?" "Who can answer the question?" "Want to use the toilet?" " I know the answer, sir." "I'll tell you the answer." " Sir!" "I'll answer the question." "I see a halo around you!" "Tell me." "Sir, it's 280 metres." "The halo is gone now." "Shanthi." "You tell me." "Sir, 308 metres?" "Correct!" "Next..." "Your hands have the option of holding a pen." "Don't hold a ladle." "I want to score well in half-yearly exams." "I'll memorise whatever you tell me to." "Maths is not a subject you can memorise." "You need to understand and practise." "Ma'am..." "Can I tell you something?" "Sometimes, when I think about it..." " You're thinking too much." "Yes." "But even if Abhi passes her tenth..." "What next?" "I don't have the money to put her through medical or engineering college." "That is the truth." "Shanthi, let Abhi finish her 10th." "We'll deal with whatever happens next." "But it's important that she completes this." "You think so?" " Yes." "Okay." "So, you only speak English these days?" "I'm going to school, you see." " Oh!" "Are you blind?" "Watch where you're going." "Take your bag and get out of my way!" "Stop staring!" "The District Collector is getting delayed." "Pick up your bag and leave." "Can't you hear me?" " Dayal!" "Are you crazy?" "Is that how you talk to a lady?" "Sorry, sir." "I'm sorry, madam." "It was our fault." "Apologise to her." " Sorry, madam." "Give her the bag." "Sorry." "Dayal..." "A buffalo has been tied to a stick in a field." "The stick is in the center." "The rope is the radius." "The place it can graze is the area." "What's wrong?" "Do you know where the District Collector lives?" "My wife asked me to get home early today." "But he's still not come!" "What's new?" "He's never on time anyway." "I wish he would." " Just wait..." "Suriyanaraya..." "Greetings, brother!" "Is this the Collector's house?" "No." "This is Rajinikanth's house." "I need to meet the Collector." " He's not here." "He's gone out." "Go away!" "I said, leave!" "What are you looking at?" "Brother, is the Collector home?" "I told you already." "Get out!" "I need to..." " Get out!" "He's still here?" " Get going!" "She comes even on Sundays!" "Brother, please." "Let me meet him just this once." "I just need to talk to him." " We'll let her in if she begs everyday?" "Wretched women, where do they come from?" "Mind your words." "Who you calling a wretched woman?" " You're talking too much." "If I hit you..." "Hit me." "Go on, hit me." "I dare you." "I'll turn your face around." "I was being real decent." "You're talking too much." "Go on, wave that stick at me one more time?" "I've been coming here for ten days." "Is he some God?" "I need to see him." " Who do you think you are?" "You think you're some bigshot Collector?" " YOU think you're some bigshot Collector?" "Yeah, I am a bigshot here." " What's going on here?" "Sir, I am Shanthi!" "Do you remember me?" "I was about to get hit by your car." "Sir, I need to talk to you." " Tell me, madam." "I've been coming here for ten days." "But they won't let me see you." "Just give me a minute!" "Let her in." " Okay, sir." "Thank you, sir." " Come in." "First, sign the entry-book." "Bring it to me and I will sign it for you." "What?" "Wait, I'll tell on you to the Collector." " No need to sign anything." "Just go!" "Tell me." " Sir, my name is Shanthi." "I work at Dr. Shankaran's house." "Dr. Shankaran's house?" "But I don't have any work for you here." "No, sir." "I'm not looking for work." "I want to talk to you about something important." "Go ahead." " Sir..." "Which college should one study in to become like you?" "You mean, to become a District Collector?" "Yes, sir." "To become an engineer, one must go to an engineering college." "Medical college to beocme a doctor." "So, to become a Collector..." "which college...?" "There is no college for Collectors." "One needs to pass the U.P.S.C. exam." "That's all." "One minute, sir." "I'll write that down." "Badri, bring us tea." "U.P.S...?" " U.P.S.C." "Does it cost a lot of money?" "It doesn't cost too much." "Only hard-work is needed." "But there are coaching classes and tuitions, right?" "Some people go for those." "But I didn't." "I didn't have the money." "For one whole year, I locked myself in a room and studied." "That's all." "Whom are you enquiring for?" "For my daughter, sir." " Oh!" "Is your daughter interested in Civil Service?" "I mean, a Collector." "Bless those words!" "Thank you so much, sir." "Drink some tea!" " No, sir." "I need to find out where this is." "One minute." "Badri!" "Sir?" " Get Balaji to drop her home." "It's my usual route." "I'll go on my own!" "It's no problem." "Just wait." "The driver will drop you." "Thank you, sir." "The total surface area of a cuboid is..." "lb+ hl + bl." "Dear students." "Here is your question for the day." "Who can solve this problem?" "Will you solve it, or shall I?" "Sir, shall I?" " Anbu..." "I know you can." "Why is maths so hard?" " Because you're not trying to understand it." "Just try to understand it." "You'll find it so interesting!" "Why do you read each question for so long?" "First secret of maths:" "The solution lies within the problem." "Just read it over and over." "You will find the answer." "Read this." "The circumference of a park is 28 metre." "There is a garden at the center." "The cirumference of which is 14 metre." "There is a path around the garden." "What is the width of the path?" "Did you get it?" "Read it again." "You will get it." "7 metre?" "Correct!" "Oh, you'll prance in whenever it pleases you?" "What's the time?" " Brother..." "There was a problem at home." "Get to work now." "I've kept your saree here." "You've gone back to sleep?" "The bed is unamade!" "What's wrong?" "Are you sick?" "But you seem fine!" "Wake up." "It's so nice to see you in this uniform!" "Nice!" "I only wish for one thing." "Abhi must study well." "Know something?" "My prayers have been answered." "I've started fasting twice a week now." "It's not your prayers." "It is the challenge." "It's both." "Fine, I'm leaving." "Wake up!" "It's getting late!" "Sachin retires..." "Sachin." "Sachin." "Cricket with no Sachin..." "Cricket without Sachin, is like a tyre without a tube." "Volume of a sphere is..." "4/3 πr^3" "... is equal to 2πr." "Fire... chair..." "Pair..." "Hair!" "Tortoise walks slow." "Rabbits run fast." "Tortoises are slow, unlike rabbits." "The circumference of a circle is..." "2πr." "2πr." "c=2πr." "x-5... km/hour." "Volume of a cylinder is..." "πr^2h!" "Abhi, wake up!" "Abhi, you have an exam today." "Go on time at least today." "Hope you remember your challenge." "Should I wake up Abhi?" " No, she's up." "She'll manage on her own." "Oi!" "Give it to me." "That's enough." " One more question, sir..." "Sir, one more question..." " Time's up!" "Come, on." "Hand over your papers." "Sir, please..." " You'll be writing this again next year." "Sir!" "Please..." "Sir, two minutes!" " You had six months." "Sir, please!" " Give it!" "Sir!" "Sir!" "I didn't even feel bad when I failed." "I knew all the answers." "A little more time, I'd have scored a 100%!" "You can never score that." " Why?" "Why not?" "That's the last secret of maths." "Practise, practise, practise." "Right.I know that." "This one?" "sin^2 x + cos ^2 x divided by 6." "This bloody bell!" "Always rings at the wrong time." "What?" "I'm not just saying." "I knew all the answers." "A little more time, I'd have scored a 100%!" "What?" "How was it?" "How was your exam?" "I did well." "So, how did you do?" "I did well." "Yeah?" "Anbu!" "Wonderful." "Here." "Shanthi!" "You've done well." "But I expect more from you." "52 on 100." "Abhinaya." "You've exceeded my expectations this time." "Very good." "58 on 100." "I'm sorry, brother." "There really was a problem." "And I had a lot of work." "Oh, then go home and get some rest." "Just stay at home." " I'll come on time from now." "No, it won't work out." "Here's your wage for ten days." "Take it." "Have fun at home." "My baby!" "I wanted to hug you in school!" "See?" "I've got your favourite noodles." "We'll eat together today." "I know you're really smart." "But you're lazy." "But you rocked today!" "Did you see the headmaster's face?" "He was shocked!" "You've just about passed now." "But soon, Abhi will score the first rank!" "Then..." "It's college, U.P.S.C. exam..." "My Abhi will become a Collector!" "Here, eat up." "You'll get a car with a siren!" "Government bungalow!" "Security guards, policemen..." "You'll be a star!" "Eat well." "Abhi, look." "Don't worry about the fees." "I've saved money for your coaching." "Just keep on studying hard." "Okay?" "Know something, Abhi?" "The challenge was just to make you study." "I'm not interested in going to school everyday." "That too, at this age!" "But, from tomorrow, I won't come to school." "Okay?" "I promise." "My darling." "That's what I wanted, too." "Become a Collector?" "I didn't study so hard to become a Collector!" "I wanted you to stop coming to school." "You're always yelling at me." "Don't talk that way, Abhi." "I just understood something." "You're trying to achieve your dreams through me." "You're making me do everything that you couldn't." "I'm going to school." "That's good enough for me." "Neither do you have the means to put me through college..." "Nor am I interested in that." "You're just saying that!" "Yes, I've got your pickle ready!" "Yes, my flight is in the morning." "No, auntie!" "Early morning flight..." "Shanthi, I don't want that." "You asked for the silk saree!" "Okay, I'll take care." "Okay, I'll talk later!" "Bye!" "I've packed the Kashmiri shawl you had asked for." "I don't want that." "I've cleaned the kitchen and turned off the cooking gas." "I've shut all the windows." "I'll come once a week and clean up the house." "You don't worry about anything." "You asked me to pack so many clothes unnecessarily." "What's wrong?" "Come here." "Come on!" "Sit." "What happened?" "I feel sad that you're going." "Look, I'll be back before you notice it." "Okay?" "Here's your salary for three months." "Take it." "It's fine." " Shanthi, take it." "You'll need it." "You're leaving, too." "I'll be so lonely." "Subramani." " Yes, sir!" "Soundarya!" " Yes, sir." "Shanthi Gopal." "Viswanath," " Yes, sir!" "Venkatesh." " Yes, sir." "I don't understand anything." " It's not too bad." "Hi, Shanthi!" "Susi!" "I need to talk to you." " I don't want to." "You broke your word!" " Let go!" "You said you'll stop coming to school!" "Now you're acting." "You think you're the only one who can act?" "I'll come to school everyday." "I will score more than you in the maths and put you in your place." "You're a fool, Shanthi." "You try so hard, but she will never change." "I know." "But if I lose now, Abhi will never stand a chance at victory in life." "If the girl manages to score more than 50 in her exams..." "What will I do for money to put her through college?" "That's why I work so hard." ""Is life in our control?" "Can we pave our path?"" ""Do you know your purpose here?" "Or are you in the wrong place?"" ""All rivers reach the ocean."" ""Is this life a blessing from the God?" "Or is it what your Mother gave?"" ""Are we like a gentle, passing breeze?"" "I'll drop you home." ""Is life in our control?" "Can we pave our path?"" "Thank you, brother." ""Do you know your purpose here?" "Or are you in the wrong place?"" "Vicky and Susi have both... passed!" " Give me a five, sir!" "I worked hard." "Abhinaya." "You've gone back to your usual form." "Here's your paper." "You've failed." "Time's up." "Collect your papers, students!" "But how did you pass?" "Superb, Vicky!" " Thanks!" "Great job, Susi!" " You must score a 100!" "Now we're even." "NOW we're even." "Let's go!" "Party!" " Party?" "Where?" "For what?" " Because my friends have passed!" "Money?" " I'll take care of it." "Superb!" "Please come." "You can take that table." "For me?" "One hot and sour soup, one chicken pizza, two schezwan mixed fried rice." "Chicken 90." " 90?" "One mango milkshake." "And this." "Come on, girls!" " Let's go!" "Wow!" " Superb." "Hmmm?" " Superb." "Superb!" " Isn't it?" "I'd kept it right here!" "Where did it go?" "Abhi, where were you?" "You're so late!" "Have you seen the money I kept in this box?" "Where did you get this?" "Tell me, where did you get this?" "Where's the money, Abhi?" "Did you steal?" "Answer me!" "Did you steal?" "I put up with everything you did." "But now you've started stealing, too?" "Why are you like this?" "I worked so hard to save that money!" "You've blown it out in one day, you fool!" "What money?" "You didn't work hard for that money." "I know how you made it." "You're just having fun." "What did you say?" "Say that one more time?" "I saw it." "Some man drops you home every night." "I'm having fun?" "You think I'm having fun?" "This was the one thing you hadn't said to me." "I'm slogging day and night for you!" "You think I'm having fun?" "How could you ask me such a thing?" "You don't need to do anything for me." "You will understand when I'm dead." "It was my salary for three months!" "Who will give it to me now?" "How will I pay the school fees, provisions, rent?" "Tell me!" "I don't care about any of that!" "I know you wouldn't care." "You're not fit to even be a maid!" "Do whatever you want." "Go to hell!" "Serves me right for slogging for you." "Shanthi Gopal." "Shanthi Gopal." "Yes, sir!" "Shanthi." "Yes, sir." "Roll number 28." " Yes, sir!" "Where is Shanthi?" " I miss her, too." "Do you miss Shanthi or her lunch?" " Both!" "Everyone shall submit an essay on this topic tomorrow." "You shall read it out loud before the class." "My dream is to become a driver!" "Is that even a goal?" "Everyone would laugh at me." "Who asked you to choose such a stupid ambition?" "I didn't know they'd make us write about it." "What will you write about?" " I don't know." "Abhi, what will you write about?" "Poor people do not have the right to dream." "One who does not have a dream... is truly poor." "You're the only girl I know without any dream!" "Here." "My new style." "How is it?" "It's great!" "Look at that!" "It's superb." "What's wrong, Abhi?" " You look sad." "Tell us what's wrong." "Why are you so quiet?" "What's on your mind?" "You made us come to the first bench." "Now you've gone back to the last bench?" "Look, Abhi." "Everyone except you is studying hard for the exams." "Let's go, Susi." "What happened?" " What?" "What's your problem?" " Why didn't Shanthi come to school?" "I don't know." "Why do you ask me?" "I know everything." " What?" "What do you know?" "I know that Shanthi is your mother." "So you must know where she's going and what she's done?" "Yes, I know." "Abhi, you have many questions." "But you're not trying to find a solution." "Remember what I said?" "The solution lies within the problem." "Where are you going?" "Meet me at Jai Autoworks in the evening." "Brother, I'll be back." " Make it quick." "Let's go." "Do you know why your mother works in such a place?" "It's for you." "You don't even care about yourself." "But your mother believes in you." "She still believes in you." "That you will score above 50 in half-yearly exams." "But she needs money for your coaching class." "That's why she works so hard." "She's not thrusting her dreams on you, Abhi." "You are her only dream." "And that's my brother." "The man who drops her home." "You said bad things about him and your mother." "My brother's name is Ganesh." "He has big dreams for me." "But I'd never talk to my brother the way you spoke to your mother." "Shanthi..." "You're working so hard for your daughter." "But if you work here, she won't study!" "Tell me now." "Will you come to school?" "Or stay here?" "Abhi, after your father passed away, your mother struggled to rasie you." "Many adviced her to get an abortion." "I did, too." "Your mother is the reason you exist, Abhi." "Good morning, sir." " Sit down." "Oh, Shanthi is back?" "You finally found the time to drop by, huh?" "Such an unruly class!" "One student is not interested in class." "Another doesn't have any dreams!" "Shanthi, since you were absent, we don't know your dream." "What is it?" "Or get out of the class!" "If you hang around with idiots, you will be an idiot, too!" "Sir, shall I tell you what her dream is?" "You don't even know your dream." "You want to tell us hers?" "Sir, if Shanthi hadn't had a dream, she wouldn't be here getting yelled at!" "Shanthi works all day." "Yet, she comes to school." "Because she has a dream." "Shanthi doesn't even get Sundays off." "There are no Sundays or holidays for maids." "And yet, on Monday, during the roll-call..." "She'd say, "Yes, sir" with a full smile." "She doesn't know rain, shine, sickness..." "nothing!" "Because her dream is her whole life!" "Her dream is very important to her." "The dream is, her daughter shouldn't tell everyone that... she doesn't even have a dream!" "Shanthi is my mother!" "Get in." "You may go in." "Abhi, look..." "It's okay to lose." "But never accept defeat without putting up a fight." "Remember this one thing, Abhi." "Your dreams are just yours." "Some people may laugh at your dreams." "You laugh at them!" "They can't take your dreams away from you." "Some people will respect and support all of your dreams." "Hold them close to your heart, always." "Life is full of hurdles." "But it doesn't last forever." "Mom..." "But don't give up your dreams, at any cost, no matter what." "Want to know why?" "Your dreams are your only weapon to fight in your life." "Your confidence is the reason your dreams have come true." "Abhinaya Gopal." "Normally, girls stay away from maths." "But you have majored in maths." "And you have passed your U.P.S.C. exam with good scores." "That's really commendable." "Sir..." "My mother is the reason behind all this." "What does your mother do?" "My mother..." "She takes maths tuitions to underpriviledged children." "For free." "That's good, Abhinaya." "Why did you want to become an I.A.S. officer?" "So that I wouldn't become a maid." ""God's creations, are such a marvel." "Each being is a unique little wonder."" ""He's given enough to last;" "For every last being."" ""For the sake of human race, He created the Mother."" ""Of all the life-forms, Humans are the greatest."" ""Of all the humans, Mother is the greatest.""