Reaj's mother Sabera doesn't worry much about the future

Reaj Mondal is in 6th class. His mother was busy when we reached there and therefore I got some time alone with Reaj. On asking how many subjects he has, he counted for 1 minute and said six. His mother Sabera came and the conversation shifted to her. She understood Hindi and was responding quickly but slowly in the beginning. Later she got comfortable in talking and got energetic in explaining things. Her husband works in a sewing shop nearby and she is a housewife. She took the loan as Reaj's private tuition expenses was getting difficult to bear. He studies three subject's tuition which are Bangla, Mathematics, and English.

She is taking loan from two years and the last loan she took was for sewing business. Her husband earns around Rs 4000 to 5000 per month. Reaj's school is nearby which he goes by walking, earlier he used to go by van. He didn't go to school that day as he went to Madrassa. Reaj wants to continue with Madrassa instead of school as he has many friends there, teachers are good and they teach Arabic also. On asking what else he does apart from studies, his mother said that he doesn't have time to play and used tiffin time to play. His mother said that he would have to business when he grows up as he doesn't have much chances in getting a job as they are very poor on asking what he wants to become in future. I said if he studies he will surely get a job. His mother replied that they don't worry much about the future. Reaj got 40 percent marks in his fifth class. And his mother said that he is good in studies. He comes home at 7 p.m after tuitions and studies for some time and sleeps around 10. 

Sabera said that they are very poor on asking if they face any problems and lack of money brings lots of other problems. I asked her if anyone in their family has any health issues, she said that her daughter who is 8 years old has a problem in her hand. A lamp fell on hand and they are not able to get it treated due to lack of money so much that they are not even able to go to Kolkata for treatment. Most of the money is spend in Reaj's education. The tuition expenses of Reaj is Rs 800 per month and for 300 for her daughter. His mother said many times that they don't have much money and she said that they want the loan amount to be increased and will take a new loan in the next year also to expand the business.