Vinay

Vinay

Life is the best teacher….

(Ms Padma (grandma) was a retired teacher. She used to help some students in her neighbourhood with their studies in the evenings.)

Nikhil: Why are you sad?

Pooja: My parents are never happy with my marks. They never appreciate me.

Nikhil: Have you not performed well?

Pooja: I don’t know. I have scored 70 and above in all the subjects out of 100. In Maths I secured 89.

Nikhil: Wow! That’s really good marks. I just get in 50’s and above and my parents are also not happy. I really try hard, but I am not able to.

Sneha: At least you both are getting passing marks, I am getting very less. I sometimes fail in some subjects. My parents beat me for that.

Grandma: You all are trying your best and have also made progress accordingly. Continue doing it, you will do better and better. One day you all will make your parents proud, like Vinay, who had similar problems like you all. But one positive stroke and his determination made a difference.

Gowtham: Who is Vinay? Did he too come here to study?

Grandma: Come, today I will tell you all the story of Vinay and his journey.

(Vinay and his friend Sonu sitting near the bridge)

Vinay: I have to go home now. My father is going to beat me, if I am late.

Sonu: He will beat you, your sisters and your mom any ways. Stay for some time and go.

Vinay: I don’t even know, if my father knows my name. he always calls me a fool, good for nothing. I feel he is good for nothing.

Father: A fool, good for nothing, what are you doing here. Wasting all your time, doing nothing. At least you study, you can lead a good life or else you are going to be in this hell for ever. Your sisters are to be married. Who will take up their responsibility. You are a fool, good for nothing. (Vinay runs away from there)

(Vinay at home. He lives with his parents and two sisters in a small house)

Vinay: Ma, ma! Why is appa like this? Always scolding, I am tired.

Mother: What happened Vinay?

Vinay: I was with Sonu. He came there and started shouting at me.

Sister: Appa was really good earlier. After the factory close down he is upset. He stopped our school as we had no money. He wants you at least to study so that you can have a bright future and you are not at all disciplined.

Vinay: Enough of your lecture on discipline. I am working hard and I am very disciplined. I don’t have to learn from you.

Mother: Vinay, she sacrificed her studies for you and you have no concern for her. Is this the way you respect elders.

Vinay: You don’t start your lecture now. I am just waiting for my results. Then I am going to Goa with Sonu.

Mother: And do what? You are trusting him more than your family. You will regret one day.

(Vinay switches on TV and starts watching program)

Vinay: All this is good to watch on TV in reality nothing is true. Ma, I want Rs 20,000.

Mother: For what?

Vinay: How many times to tell you? I am going to Goa. Sonu and I are going to work there. I will earn lot of money and then will return your money.

Mother: I don’t have it.

(Vinay robs jewellery from the house and goes away with Sonu to the railway station. They plan to work in Goa.)

 

Sonu: Come let’s go. Train is at 5.

Vinay: I couldn’t get money. But I got some jewellery. I hope that would be enough for us.

Sonu: Don’t worry friend, I will manage.

 

(They sleep in the train. In the morning Vinay looks for Sonu)

Passenger: What are you looking for boy?

Vinay: My friend Sonu. He was with me.

Passenger: Oh, that boy. He got down at 3 with one black bag.

Vinay: Are you sure?

(He looks into his baggage and finds that Sonu took all his gold as well. He gets down in Goa. He is very hungry; He has no money to buy food. Sleeps on the bench.)

(He sleeps for some time. Gets up from his sleep. Looks around and starts crying.)

 

Vinay: I don’t deserve to live. I can’t go back home. What should I do now? Where should I go?

(He starts walking. For hours he keeps walking without any realisation. He walks ahead to the beach and walks ahead towards the waves to get drowned.)

(Mr Brown sees a young boy trying to get drowned into the water. He runs towards him and saves him)

Mr Brown: Hey boy, what are you doing? Why do you want to die? You are so healthy and fit.

Vinay: I am finished. I cheated my family and my friend cheated me. I can’t go home. They will be angry with me. I robbed all that they had earned.

Mr Brown: Family is a blessing. You just need to go and ask for forgiveness.

Vinay: I can’t live sir. I don’t deserve to.

(Mr Brown takes Vinay along with him and shows him a handicap boy and tells him.)

Mr Brown: Are you not more blessed than him. In spite of being handicap, look he is working and earning his bread and butter.

Vinay: Hmmmm

Mr Brown: Come with me. Look here (shows some children differently abled). See them, how well they are facing their challenges without any complain. They have all the gratitude towards life and they are doing their best. They are content and happy. Learn to show gratitude towards all the people who have helped you. Don’t end your life like this.

Vinay: I agree Sir. But, what work can I do? Who will give me the job?

Mr Brown: I will give you the work, if you are ready to work.

Vinay: Thank you Sir. I will.

Mr Brown: Come with me.

(Vinay works in Mr Brown’s hotel.)

 

Mr Brown: Vinay, I am really impressed the way you are working. Do you know to read and write.

Vinay: Yes sir. I have studied till 12th.

Mr Brown: Good. From today you can write the name of the special dish of the day with its cost on the board outside.

Vinay: Sure Sir (He writes along with beautiful illustrations)

Mr Brown: Wow! This board looks impressive. You draw so beautifully.

Vinay: Thank you Sir. You are the first one to appreciate me. My father always shouted at me when I did my drawings. He always said its good for nothing.

Mr Brown: Boy, you have a blessed hand.

 

(Mr Brown gets him more canvas and colours)

(Vinay sees a picture of Mother Teresa on the vehicle where in he sees few kids raising fund to help needy and sick.)

Vinay: Who is she? What a lovely face! I feel like my mother standing and comforting me.

Mr Brown: She is Mother Teresa. She is known for her kindness. She founded the order, the Missionaries of Charity, to look after abandoned babies and help the poor.

Vinay: What a noble cause?

Mr Brown: Kindness is doing what you can, where you are, with what you have.

(Vinay makes a beautiful painting of Mother Teresa.)

Mr Brown: (looking at the painting) This is so beautiful Vinay. My friend Anne will be coming in. I have told her about your talent. She works for the art gallery. 

(Anne walks in.)

Anne: Hi Mr Brown. How are you?

Mr Brown: Look here! This is the painting I was talking about.

Anne: There is an order for this painting for Rs 20,000.

Mr Brown: That sounds great.

Anne: Vinay can you make some more paintings. I will pay you well as I sell them.

Vinay: Sure Ma’am.

Anne: We pay a part to charity to help the needy and hungry. You too were supported by Mr Brown in the same way. Mr Brown always believed in you.

Vinay: Thank you! Thank you! I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you all.

Anne: You don’t have to thank us. You can get back to your family and continue working with us from there. You too can continue this good deed of charity.

Vinay: I too would love to join you. I will pay a share of my income to help others.

Anne: Yes! The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity.

(Vinay travels back to his family)

Father: (Coughing) I always scolded Vinay, so that he can take up the responsibility of the family. I always loved him. He should have not left us like this.

Mother: If he understands our love, he will come back. He was misguided by his friend Sonu. When he will realise that, he will come back.

Sister: Ma, Appa, look here who is come. Our prayers are answered.

(Parents and sisters crying with joy.)

Mother: My son, Vinay, where were you? We were looking for you?

Father: Anyways I am happy that you came back dear. We missed you always. Now our family is complete.

Mother: May God bless Mr Brown and Ms Anne for saving you and helping you. We were so worried about you.

Sister: Your friend Sonu was caught selling our gold. Police returned our gold.

Vinay: Thank God. Come let’s go to the temple and thank God.

Grandma: This was the story of Vinay. His upbringing, love of family and deep-rooted values got him back to his family. 

Nikhil: We should follow our passion, identify our talent and work hard with strong determination. Right grandma.

Grandma: Yes dear. You are correct.

Pooja: We too understood the importance of family and value of life.

Grandma: We learn a from our experience. Life is the best teacher.