A letter from the TV channel informed Naina that the casting for their show was complete and now they would start working on the costumes and designing. She was asked to come for a meeting where she could give suggestions regarding the look of actors and the set according to her story.

Sameer accompanied her to the office. A day long meeting helped the team to finally decide how to plan the look for each stage.

Since the festival season had started, the roads and markets were crowded. While riding back to the college, they were caught in a traffic jam.

As they waited, a little girl approached them, holding a small bunch of roses.

Holding out one to Sameer, she pleaded, "Bhaiya, ek phool le lo, didi ke liye."

Sameer was about to tell her not to say didi but seeing her sad eyes, he stopped.

"Le lo na bhaiya, didi ke jaisa hi sundar phool hai." She begged.

Naina stepped down and crouched in front of the girl, "Tum roz yahan phool bechti ho?"

She nodded.

"School nahi jaati?" She asked.

The girl shook her head sadly.

"Tumhare mummy papa kahan hai?" She enquired.

The girl turned and pointed to the small cluster of slums at the roadside.

Naina stood up and looked at Sameer. He nodded and started to move his bike to the side of the road.

They walked together with the girl to the tiny thatched shanty.

"Maaa", the girl said a little loudly.

A thin woman walked out. Seeing her daughter with strangers, she was alarmed.

Immediately, she folded her hands, "Kya hua madam? Isne koi galti ki kya? Main isko samjha dungi... aap maaf kar dijiye... choti bachi hai... police mein mat jana."

Naina and Sameer were surprised.

"Aisa kyon keh rahi hain aap? Hum police mein kyon jayenge?" Naina asked.

The lady was nervous, "Woh kabhi kabhi kuch log naraz ho jaate hain jab yeh phool lene ko kehti hai... toh police wale ko bol dete hain... woh aake marte hain."

Naina clutched Sameer's hand tightly, not able to imagine how someone could hit such a small child over something so trivial.

Sameer kept his other hand on Naina's, to comfort her and looked at the lady, "Aapse kuch sawal puch sakte hain."

She was now suspicious, "TV wale hain aap log? Woh hi aate hain sawal puchne aur photo kheechne."

"Nahi, TV wale nahi hain... hum toh yahan college mein padhte hain." He informed.

The lady nodded.

They asked her about her family and source of income, about her children and why they lived in these conditions.

They came to know she was originally from the neighbouring state and came here with her husband in search of a livelihood. Her husband did odd jobs around the city and her two children, both girls, sold flowers and cheap toys on the road. She herself worked in a building being constructed on the other side of the road. Since they could not afford it, her daughters did not go to school.

Knowing about the pitiable conditions of these people, Naina was disturbed.

They left a few minutes later, after buying all the flowers that the girl had, even the ones she had kept inside the small room.

Both mother and daughter were very happy.

Naina could not sleep the whole night. She wondered how many small girls like that  were without education... just because they could not afford it.

When the darkness gave way to a pinkish hue to the horizon, she had taken a decision.

Sameer was waiting for her in the morning. As she walked to him, he could see that she was preoccupied.

"Kya baat hai, Naina? Pareshan ho?" He asked as she reached him.

She smiled, "Thi... par ab shayad pareshani ka hal mil jayega... tum chaloge mere saath?"

He held her hand, "Main toh hamesha tumhare saath hun, kahin bhi le chalo."

"Pata hai tum saath ho... isiliye himmat aati hai mujhmein." She dragged him to the class.

She explained her plan to Sameer during the day. He was astonished to know what she was going to do.

They left for the channel office after the classes were over.

"Aap janti hain na aap kya keh rahi hain? Matlab kal ko agar channel pe ya show ke producers pe koi ungli uthaye toh theek nahi hoga." Mr. Kapoor was apprehensive initially.

"Aap pe ungli nahi uthegi... main apni marzi se yeh karungi... balki aapke show ke theme ke saath yeh achhe se jayega." She assured him.

He looked at Sameer, "Aapki wife jo karne jaa rahi hain, Sameer ji, aisa toh humne kisi ko karte nahi dekha... paise se sabko pyar hota hai... aur jab bohot bade aadmi ban jaate hain tab yeh sab thoda bohot theek hai lekin Naina madam ki toh shuruaat hai... abhi se inke aise iraade hain."

Sameer looked lovingly at her, "Naina aisi hi hai... apne se zyada usse doosron ka khyaal rehta hai."

Then he looked at Mr Kapoor, "Waise publicity toh aapko hi milegi... kal ko agar yeh campaign logon ko pasand aaya toh aapka show aur aapka channel dono famous ho jayenge... saara faayda aapka hai... Naina toh apna naam tak kahin nahi laa rahi."

"Baat toh aap theek keh rahe hain... chaliye fir yeh bhi karke dekh lete hain." Mr. Kapoor finally agreed.

When they left the office, Naina felt lighter for the first time since the previous day.

Ever since she had seen how a small  girl of not more than six years ran bare feet on an extremely busy road... just to earn a few rupees... and had no means of getting any education ever, she was left wondering how relevant was her own success if it could not help others. She had been sent to school, given the chance to go after her dreams, got the opportunity to realise those dreams... now it was her turn to bring some happiness in the sad eyes of that little girl... and many more like her.

She planned a project... where the girls living in slums would be registered in nearby government schools, their education would be funded by a TV channel that was starting a show on the journey of a girl who reached the skies, after being pushed back time and again. The channel had a wide reach and the message would be telecasted after each episode... audience would be asked to register the names of such girls around their areas.

The project would be titled 'Kaliyaan.'

The funding would come from those who would like to donate to this cause... the audience would be asked to contribute if they could. Naina had given up ninety percent of her payment that she would be getting per episode. She did not want her name to be mentioned anywhere. It would be advertised as the brain child of the channel, so that people could identify with it. All government schools would be made aware of it... the uniform and books would be given by the channel. Since the children were made to work by their parents, sending them to school would mean a financial loss to them... to combat this hindrance, the kids would be given free food and a small sum of money for each day that they attend.

For the initial expenses, Sameer had given a cheque for a huge amount as donation from Maheshwari Industries.

He and Naina planned to visit the education department of the government in a few days... to get the permission to attach all schools with project 'Kaliyaan.'

Within two weeks, the permission was obtained and information sent to schools in the entire state.

The channel had started advertising the upcoming show, along with a brief mention of 'Kaliyaan.'

One afternoon, when Naina and Sameer reached the library for a study session, the newspaper lying on the table of librarian caught Sameer's eye.

He picked it up excitedly, scanning the news article.

"Kuch khaas news hai kya, Sameer?" Naina was curious to see him engrossed in the newspaper for the first time.

He did not reply till he had read the whole thing.

Spreading the paper in front of Naina, he showed it to her, "Dekho Naina, 'Kaliyaan' ke baare mein kitna achha article aaya hai. Ek actor ne apni NGO ki taraf se sabke uniform aur books ka kharcha uthane ka offer diya hai. Kuch aur famous logon ne bhi iski tareef ki hai."

Naina read the whole thing.

She looked up at Sameer, eyes shining, "Sameer jo hum karna chahte the uski shuruaat ho rahi hai."

He held her hand, "Tum kuch shuru karo aur woh aage na badhe aisa toh ho hi nahi sakta... dekhna ek din tumhara yeh kadam kitni ladkiyon ki zindagi sudhar dega."

She was overwhelmed, "Agar aise hi log madad karne aage aate rahe toh jaldi hi hum baaki jagahon pe bhi isse shuru kar sakte hain."

He nodded, delighted at the shine in her eyes, "Mujhe aaj tum pe bohot garv ho raha hai, Naina."

"Aur mujhe tumpe... har kadam pe mera haath tham ke mujhe rasta dikhate ho... agar tum apni donation se shuruaat na karte to kaise aage badhta ye idea? Aur uss din Mr Kapoor ko patane ke liye tumne jo unka faayda ginwaya... chutkiyon mein mana liya... pakke marwadi ho." She found something to tease.

He grinned, "Marwadi toh hun... tabhi toh tumhare saath yahan baith ke padh raha hun classes khatam hone ke baad bhi... aakhir mera faayda jo hone wala hai."

She smacked him on the arm.

When they visited the channel office next week, Mr Kapoor was excited to share with them the details of the project.

"Iski wajah se hamare show ke liye ek aisi leher ban gayi hai ki sab besabri se intezaar kar rahe hain. Bas ab diwali ke baad shooting shuru kar denge. Aaj subah hi education department se chitthi aayi hai... dhai sau registration ho chuke hain... humne jitna socha tha yeh usse kaafi bada hai... isliye channel ne faisla kiya hai ki jitna Naina ji apni taraf se iss project mein laga rahi hain utna hi channel bhi lagayega." He gave them the detailed report.

They were elated. More people joining hands meant more girls could have access to education.

"Thank you, sir. Aap ne itna promote kiya isliye hum isko aage badha paye." Naina said, smiling.

Mr Kapoor was suddenly very polite, "Thank you toh humein aapko bolna chahiye. Humne sirf faayde ke liye aapko haan kaha tha lekin pichle kuch dino se itne log aayein hain humare office mein iss project ke liye dhanyavad dene ki humein chota mehsoos hone laga hai. Aapki wajah se hi humein itne sponsors mile hain. Naina ji, aapki soch bohot unchi hai. Humara channel lucky hai ki aapke saath kaam karne ka mauka mila."

Later, when they left the office, they went to the temple... to thank God for making them capable of bringing a change in the lives of less  fortunate.