Brihannala

Friday night was quieter than usual.
Arjun had finished the last of his household work and sat in the living room with his textbooks.
The week had exhausted him.
But there was something else on his mind.
The cultural festival.
The HOD had made it clear that he was expected to participate.
If he was going to stand on that stage, he wanted to prepare properly.
Finally, he closed his textbook.
"Appa."
Suresh looked up.
"What?"
"I need to join a dance class."
His father waited.
"For the cultural program."
Lakshmi looked toward him.
"What kind of dance?"
Arjun explained what the college expected.
There was a brief silence.
Then Suresh said:
"You can join."
Arjun looked relieved.
"Really?"
"If you want to learn, learn."
Then his father added:
"But we won't pay for it."
The relief disappeared.
"Appa?"
"You heard me."
Arjun stared at him.
Suresh remained firm.
"For years, if you wanted something, you asked and we paid. That system is over."
Lakshmi nodded.
"If you want the class, find a way to pay for it yourself."
Arjun looked down.
The dance class wasn't cheap.
He had never had to worry about such expenses before.
He had spent enormous amounts of money every month without thinking twice.
Now even a relatively small fee suddenly seemed significant.
After a moment, he asked:
"Then how do I earn it?"
Suresh looked toward their household maid.
She was clearing something in the kitchen.
"Ask her."
Arjun turned.
Their maid, Meena, looked surprised.
"Me?"
Suresh nodded.
"You know many households and establishments around here. Find him some work."
Meena hesitated.
She had seen Arjun grow up.
She had watched him walk through the house as the pampered son.
Now she was being asked to find him work.
She thought for a moment.
Then took out her phone.
"I'll ask."
She made one call.
The conversation lasted less than two minutes.
She ended it and looked toward Suresh.
"There is a hotel near his college."
Arjun listened.
"They need someone in the evening."
"What kind of work?" Lakshmi asked.
"Cleaning and washing dishes."
The room became silent.
Arjun looked at his mother.
His father looked at him.
"Four to eight," Meena continued. "Every day."
"Every day?"
"Yes."
Arjun didn't respond.
Suresh finally asked:
"How much?"
Meena told him.
It wasn't much.
Certainly not compared with what Arjun had once spent casually.
Suresh nodded.
"Fine."
He looked at Arjun.
"If you want the dance class, earn the money."
Arjun thought about it.
Then nodded.
"I'll do it."
Lakshmi added another condition.
"You still have your household responsibilities."
Arjun nodded.
"So your evening schedule has to change."
Suresh took a pen.
"College ends. You go directly to the hotel."
"Four to eight."
"Then you come home."
"By what time?"
"Nine-thirty at the latest."
Arjun nodded.
"Weekends too?"
His father looked at him.
"Yes."
Arjun understood.
The dance class would have to fit around everything else.
Lakshmi continued:
"If you want to attend dance classes on weekends, you can."
Arjun looked up.
"Really?"
"After you finish your household work."
"And after I approve it."
Arjun nodded.
His mother made the condition explicit.
"You don't simply disappear for classes. You finish your responsibilities first. I sign off. Then you go."
Arjun considered the schedule.
College.
Bus.
Hotel.
Bus home.
Household work.
Studies.
And somewhere inside all of that, dance practice.
It was going to be exhausting.
But the alternative was giving up.
He remembered the HOD's words.
You still have your education.
Make use of the opportunity.
Arjun looked at his parents.
"Okay."
Suresh nodded.
"Then start Monday."
Arjun stood.
"Thank you."
His father stopped him.
"Don't thank me."
Arjun looked back.
"You asked for the opportunity to dance. Now earn it."
Arjun nodded.
"Yes, Appa."
He returned to his textbook.
For years, money had been something he possessed.
Now it was becoming something he had to work for.
And for the first time, Arjun was about to discover how different those two things were.