First Step

"Ennage, Praveen'ku rendu vaisu ayiduchu, schoole sethu vidanumnu ethani naala sollituruken. Schools pathi visaricheengala ?" Prema started shouting at Prakash, the moment he entered house. The most important 3 things as per Prakash is Business, business and business. While Prema is worried a lot about Praveen, who just turned 2 years. Prema though a M.Phil, PhD graduate prefers to take the lead of the house and so she isnt working. "Seri seri, no tension, relax!!! Intha saturday, rendu perum senthu kelamburom, ellam schools'ayum oru round visit adichu decide pannidalam, ok va?" Prakash cools down Prema.

As planned, both of them start the visit to schools leaving Praveen with his grandmother. They see many schools and none of them impress them. Finally they go to TSG SChool which is one of the best in the city. The procedures and process is too much that Prakash and Prema are being interviewed even after they said that they had come only for enquiry. After couple of hours they get to meet the principal Mrs Leelavathy. "Neenga romba kuduthu vechurukanum, we have only 20 seats for PreKG and 19 of them were already filled. Enga schoole admission kedaikarthu is a big prestige", principal says to them. She keeps boasting about the school infrastructure, facilities, name and fame. Finally she says "Oru 1 lakh donation kattitu poidunge and the seat will be confirmed". Prakash and Prema are shocked by it and they keep starring each other. Prema asks the principal "PreKg ku 1 lakhaa, Madam ithu romba jaasthi". Principal says "Panam illama onnum ille, infrastructure ille, facilities illa, studies illa". Prema really gets wild and starts an arguement with the principal. She adds saying that "You people dont seem to run a educational institute, rather you people run business". The argument gets heated up and the principal almost challenges them that Education depends totally on money. Both leave the place with a bad taste in the mouth.


Prema gets upset a lot that they couldnt find a good school for Praveen. Prakash seeing her, is also worried. Then after thinking for sometime he tells prema - "En Prema, nambo en oru Kinder Garden School start panna koodathu ? Unne vide oru best teacher namba praveenuku kedaikarthu kashtamthaan. I will take care of the investment, you dont worry about that." Prema's face brightens and she comes near Prakash and hugs him tightly.


They start the Kinder Garden Play school and name it as "First Step". They start it with 4,5 kids and then slowly the kids strength increases every year. They extend it to LKG, UKG by the 2nd year. The school gets popular within that area and after couple of years they have classes till 5th std. They ensure that they get the best teachers and also the keep the Fees structure nominal so that Middle and low class people get good education. Soon they make First Step as a proper school having classes right from PreKG till 12th std. They take up a unique path by which they identify the talent in each student, guide them in the right way and help them decide their career based on the talent. "First Step" emerges as the best school in the city.


20 years later.

An Old woman comes to "First Step" along with her granddaughter for the admission. She is moved by the way the staffs treat every parent. She is also surprised by the process and the nominal fees structure and wonders how still the school is considered to be the best. AFter finishing all the admission formalities, she requests to meet the Chairman to personally thank her. Within couple of minutes she is taken to the Chairman's cabin. Middle aged lady, wearing simple saree smiles and welcomes the old woman. The name board reads "Mrs. Premalatha Prakash M.Phil, PhD". The old woman thanks the chairman for the admission and asks her how is the school considered as best inspite of nominal fees. The chairman says "We may not offer the best infrastructure but We offer the best education". By this time, the old woman recognises Prema's face and so she tries to leave soon not wanting the chairman to recognise her.


As the old woman leaves in her Ford Escort, Prakash crosses her and enters the school in his Maruthi 800. He goes and verifies why she had come, then goes to chairman's cabin and tells Prema "Vanthutu porathu yaaarunnu theriyuthaa?". Prema says "Mrs Leelavathye yaaru maraka mudiyum". Prakash continues "Avange Pethiku admission kuduka poriyaa?". Prema replies "Kuduka porenna... already given. Avange panna thappakku avange pethiye palivangarathu nallathille and by the way she is the main reason for our FIRST STEP, athey maranthudathinge. One more thing, avange schoole vittutu namba schoole admissionukku vanthurukarthu namakku kedaiche vettri!!!". While she is saying this, her mobile rings and Prakash jumps and takes it. "Mom, i miss you" - Praveen shouts over the phone who is doing MS in US. "Appo enna miss pannalaya, pesrathu ungamma illada ungappa" Prakash likes playing with Praveen.