‘Trrr Trrr’ echoed the alarm clock at 5.30 am like every morning. Babu got up and shut the alarm in a rush. He looked over his shoulder to check if his family of five are disturbed with the shrill sound. All of them slept peacefully in the same 10 x 10 room they called home. At 5.35 am, he started with his daily drill. He bathed, put on his uniform, said his morning prayer, had tea and packed his lunch box with the leftovers from last night. He glanced at his homework once before he put his books & pen in his backpack and left home.

The roads were still dark and the weather was pleasant as the sunrise was still half an hour away. He knew in a few hours Mumbai will be scorching with heat. He was looking forward to the summer holidays in the next month as he planned to visit his sister up north. Deep in thought, he arrived at his destination at sharp 6.15 am. A tall woman wearing a crisp cotton white kurta and pink silk dupatta stood in front of him. He took the keys from her hand and opened the rear door of the car.  As she sat in, he shut the door behind her and got in behind the steering wheel. He slid his greys behind his ear, put on his cap, set the keys into the ignition and started the car. The woman said, “Sharmaji, today I have lectures from 7.00 am to 10 am. We start your tuition at 11.00 am sharp. Hope you’ve completed your homework for yesterday.” Babu looked at her in the rearview mirror, smiled, put the car in the 3^rd gear and sped on the highway.