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It was a dreary evening during the monsoon. Ramu, a ten-year-old boy was playing with his little sister who recently turned two. His mother had been bedridden for a year due to an untreated fever. They lived in a small hut. Ramu did errand jobs to bring up his family. He had lost his father when he was just a few months old. His father, a farmer, had committed suicide after a terrific drought hit their village.

There was a small mid-school near their home. Every morning at seven, Ramu eagerly watched children walking their way to school. He badly wanted to go too but saved his hard-earned money to educate his little sister when she grows up. He mended shoes by the roadside and earned a few rupees every day.

Raghav, who ran a small footwear shop in the village knew Ramu very well and sought his help to mend shoes for his customers.

Life was pretty mundane for Ramu until one day.

Raghav had little earnings from his shop and wished he could improve his business but had a hard time figuring out an idea. He had the habit of visiting the temple near his shop and sat there for hours wondering how he could win more customers.

One day, after his usual visit to the temple, he realized that his slippers have gone missing. He frantically went in search of it but alas he could find it nowhere. Saddened, he hurried back to his shop and took out a new pair of slippers. And unexpectedly an idea struck him. Aha! So, if slippers go missing from the temple people could probably visit his shop.

Raghav devised a plan – a not-so-good plan. He called Ramu to his shop and unusually praised him for how well he mends shoes. Ramu was all elated. Raghav then promised to pay him every day in return for a favour.

''Ramu, if you do this for me, you'll soon have enough money to go to school?"

Ramu's eyes widened. "I'll do anything bhaiya. I want to go to school and keep my family happy."

Raghav continued, "OK, now, don't tell this anyone. I want you to go to the temple every day and steal some slippers. I want... "

Before Raghav could complete it, Ramu exclaimed, "No bhaiya... no. I'll not do that."

Raghav hushed him and offered to pay more. He explained how it would mutually benefit them. Ramu innocently agreed and was afraid to say anything to his mother. Ramu went to the temple every day and began to steal slippers. Slowly and steadily, people began to visit Raghav's store. The other store was a few kilometres away. Ramu was paid handsomely and he began to buy medicines for his mother and good food for his sister. He ensured his mother did not know the kind of work he did to make money.

Ramu's mother quickly gained health and one day she curiously enquired, "Beta, how are you earning so much money? Are you hiding something from me?"

"No Ma!" Ramu replied. "Of late, I'm getting more people to mend shoes." He quickly said this and left home.

As months passed by Raghav's business began to flourish.

Raghav had never bothered to ask Ramu what he does with the stolen shoes and slippers. Ramu collected all shoes and slippers he stole and secretly hid under bushes, tree holes, and under an abandoned underpass on his way home. As the business grew Raghav's behaviour toward Ramu changed for the bad. He stopped paying him as promised and warned Ramu of the consequences if he discloses it to anyone. Scared, Ramu kept everything to himself and bore everything for the sake of his family.

Ramu's mother soon recovered from illness. She gained strength and travelled to a nearby town, carrying her daughter to work, as she toiled as housemaid. She worked hard to make ends meet and her only aim was to educate her children.