Guess what? Some of them score scholarships to be there, too. Yeah, the school has to do this due to the government order.

Now about me.

I discovered that a group of parents from elites, had approached me in order to teach their children painting in the hopes of winning the competition. The prize for the winner is ₹5,00,000. Oh, you know, the parents are super rich, but who cares about the actual amount, right? It's all about making sure their kid's name gets a prime spot in the hall of fame. Because, you know, money can't buy happiness, but it sure can buy a shiny statue with your kid's name on it!

So, I decided to take up this as a teaching thing rather than a judge.

I have decided to help the one who needs it the most.

I figured they might need my help more. But, let me tell you, getting to that place is like entering a maze of safety concerns. There's a risk of getting some serious side-eye from the locals. It's not like I can just walk in.

Because:

Some people get all sensitive about using the term "basti," like it's some kind of social media filter for poverty. Speaking of social media, there's this influencer, viral designer Nishmi Kaur, who used poverty background as the backdrop of one of her photoshoots and faced severe backlash for it.

Right now, I must come up with a solid plan to make this work. I'll be left wondering what to do next if they shut me down.

To begin, I approached a charity organisation and asked if they could connect me with someone who knows the ins and outs of the basti. Dr. Arpana is the name they've come up with for me. She's the doctor of a government hospital near the Basti.

First, I need to select my outfit. Please don't get me wrong, but the clothes I wear are not only revealing, but they are also not very appropriate for where I am going.

So I cannot wear anything So I decided to get a simple kurta and jeans from my wardrobe. So, Sai and Preet start realising that this place we're going might not be the safest spot on the map. The vibe gets tense, and you can see doubt written all over their faces.

"Dude, are you sure about this place? Look at it. I don't think it's safe," Preet says for obvious reasons, not liking the place. "Sahej, just look at the houses," she points out, making me so nervous that I feel like peeing. My gut is also tightening up.

"Chill, Preet, and quit acting all embarrassed," I shoot back.

"As if you're not ashamed of where you were born," Preet fires back, and you can feel the tension in every word.

"No, that's different, Preet. I'm just saying this because your Mausi used to live here."

"That's why I'm telling you, this area doesn't feel safe to me."

After the drive, the three of us met with the doctor, who helped us go through everything. Then, we met the kids. I thought they would be very young, but they weren't. Oh my God, when I walked in, I was in shock.

"Hello, my name is Prisha."

"And I'm Myra,"

"I'm Avni,"

"My name is Manbir,"

"And I'm Vasu." What the heck? I thought they'd be like tiny purple seashells or something.

So, I try to act all confident and ask, "Hello, so you guys are from Pinnacle High School, right?" But deep down, I'm nervous as heck. They're all just standing there, looking distracted. This is going to be tough...

They're all buried in their phones, and some have headphones on. "What are you looking?" the guy in the olive shirt says rudely. Then this girl smacks him on the head and taking off his headphones. "Hey Vasu, behave! She's our guest and the teacher." "Sorry, Di. Hi, I'm Avni," she says, smiling at me. "Di, you're so beautiful," some girl behind Avni says.

"Thank you guys" I reply. Then Vasu goes, "Oh, this oldie. We're the only guys, and these two are girls."

"Dude, she's under 30. Get lost," Myra fires back. "And she looks younger than you," Vasu sarcastically says to Avni.

Anyway, I try to move past the drama and ask, "So, what should I call you guys? Okay, students, can you all please cooperate? I'm here to teach you."

"Di, we heard you were the judge for this competition." Myra, I think her name is, throws this question at me as she walks over and plops down next to me.

"Yeah, but let's not dwell on that. Tell me, what topic did you guys get?" I ask.

"The choice is individual, so we can pick any topic," Manbir chimes in.

"Alright, so have you guys decided on a topic for yourselves?" I inquire, settling in. We're all sitting in a circle.

And then we dive into the topical discussion, and before we know it, time just flies by. Vasu, that boy with the attitude, surprisingly toned down his rude behaviour. But when I catch a glimpse of his drawing, I'm floored. The guy's got serious talent. His artwork has meaning and depth, and I can totally see him becoming a great artist. Talk about a hidden gem!

Next Days:

A week passed by surprisingly quickly. These kids taught me so much, and together, we created this awesome vibe. At first, I thought it was going to be tough, but it turned out to be quite the ride. We all managed it like champs. It was as challenging for me as it was for them. Today's the first-ever art and painting competition. They're all painting, and we're not allowed to talk to the students once the competition starts. The minutes drag on, and it feels like forever. Then, finally, they come over to me, and we grab a quick bite and go home

Next day:

It's 6 p.m., and the auditorium is filled with people who have settled comfortably in their designated seats. This place is massive, and the suspense is killing us.  A man at the podium delivers the news: "The School of Jashnpur!"  Everyone's clapping their hearts out. "The second prize goes to Jashpour Academy!" More claps and cheers, and I'm practically on the edge of my seat.

Then, the big one: the first prize. The suspense is unbearable.

"And first goes to... the school of...Jashn Pinnacle School." My heart's racing, and there are tears of happiness in my eyes as I witness this emotional moment. The kids are giving me a big hug. We all rush to the stage. It's a moment of pure bliss, and I can't help but feel incredibly proud of these kids.