INT. KITCHEN – EVENING
The
kitchen is cozy, with a faint aroma of freshly cooked dinner lingering in the
air. DASARADHA (40s) sits at the dining table with a notepad and a few coins
spread out. RAMU (16), munching on an apple, scrolls through his phone,
half-listening to his father.
DASARADHA
RAMU, do you know how much that apple cost?
RAMU
(glancing up)
Uh, I don’t know. A few bucks?
DASARADHA
(smiling)
Close. It’s about ten rupees. Now multiply that by seven days a week. That’s
seventy. Multiply it by a month—two hundred and eighty. Small things add up.
RAMU
rolls his eyes and sets his phone down.
RAMU
Okay, so what? It’s just an apple.
DASARADHA
Exactly. It’s just an apple. But what about everything else? Food, electricity,
school fees, clothes, your phone? Where do you think it all comes from?
RAMU
(sarcastic)
Magic?
DASARADHA
(chuckling)
Not quite. It comes from work—earning money. And knowing how to use that money
wisely so we don’t run out of it.
RAMU
(frowning)
But why do we even need to stress about money so much? Can’t people just...
live without it?
DASARADHA
(sincerely)
I wish it were that simple. But money isn’t just about buying things. It’s
about security, freedom, and choices. Let me show you something.
DASARADHA
picks up a notepad and starts writing numbers. He slides the paper toward RAMU.
DASARADHA
Here’s what we earn every month. And here’s what we spend.
RAMU
leans forward, curious. The list shows:
- Salary: ₹1,12,000
- Rent: ₹11,000
- Bills: ₹1,000
- School van: ₹3,000
- Credit card: ₹40,000
- Maintenance: ₹40,000
- Savings: ₹17,000
DASARADHA
Look at that. Most of it is already gone before we even think about saving for
the future. And what if something unexpected happens? That’s why we have to
manage what we have carefully.
RAMU
(staring at the list)
Whoa... I didn’t know it worked like that. But why not just save everything?
Why spend so much?
DASARADHA
(leaning back)
Because life isn’t just about saving, RAMU. It’s about balance. Spending on
things that matter and saving for things that might come later. Managing money
means knowing when to spend, when to save, and how to plan ahead.
RAMU
(confused)
But why do you worry so much about this? I mean, can’t you just earn more if
you need to?
DASARADHA
(smiling)
That’s the thing about earning—it’s not unlimited. There’s only so much time
and energy in a day. That’s why it’s important to make every rupee count. And
one day, when you start earning, you’ll understand what it means to make your
own choices.
RAMU
(softly)
I never thought about it like that. So... you’re saying money’s not just
numbers, it’s decisions?
DASARADHA
(explaining gently)
Exactly. Every rupee is a decision. Do I spend it on something now, or save it
for something bigger later? That’s what I want you to learn. Not just earning
money, but respecting it.
RAMU
sits back, absorbing his father’s words. After a moment, he nods, his
expression thoughtful.
RAMU
Okay... so how do I start? Like, managing money?
DASARADHA
(smiling)
First, start small. Let’s make a budget for your allowance. And maybe you could
try earning a little—part-time work or helping around here. It’ll help you see
how much effort goes into every rupee.
RAMU
picks up the notepad, studying it like a puzzle. DASARADHA watches him with a
proud smile, knowing the lesson is starting to sink in.
RAMU
(deep breath)
Alright, Dad. Let’s do this.
DASARADHA
That’s my boy.
