Children at Work Summary Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 2

Key Points of the Story

• Velu, an eleven-year-old boy, runs away from home due to his father's abuse.
• He travels to Chennai without a ticket, feeling hungry and exhausted.
• At the station, a girl named Jaya notices him and offers to help.
• Jaya leads Velu through crowded streets and warns him about being careful in the city.
• They find discarded food behind a wedding hall, which Velu hesitates to eat but does due to hunger.
• Jaya explains she is a ragpicker, collecting recyclables to sell.
• Velu follows Jaya to her home, a row of makeshift huts, and is surprised by the poor living conditions.
• Velu decides to help Jaya with ragpicking work until he can find a better job.

Detailed Summary

This story revolves around an eleven years old boy, Velu. Velu ran away from his house as his father was a drunkard. His father snatched away all the money that he and his sister earned and would beat them. Being fed up with this everyday beating, he decided to run away from home. After roaming around in Coonoor for a whole day, he got into Kanyakumari express. He got into the train without a ticket as he had no money.

He reached Chennai Central station. Velu saw that there were a lot of people all around who are in a hurry. He could also hear the announcements from the loudspeaker. Velu had traveled in an unreserved coach where people were playing cards and screaming the whole night. Thus, he was unable to sleep and was feeling weak. Also, his legs were trembling. He was feeling lonely in a new place and sat on a bench.

A little girl, Jaya saw him and talked to him. Jaya was a ragpicker. Initially, he was hesitant to talk to her but she told him that she can arrange food for him. Thus, as he had no option, he agreed to go along with her. She took her through the busy streets and traffic. Velu was a bit scared to see so many vehicles on the road. As they passed by the Central Jail, Jaya warned him to never get caught by the police.

They finally reached to a marriage hall. Jaya found two bananas and vada in the garbage bin. She offered food to Velu but he was hesitant to eat it. Being hungry he had no other choice to eat it. Jaya gave a vada and a banana to Velu and ate a banana herself. After having food, she took him to her house. It was a slum house. It was made from the waste materials such as old tires, plastic sheets, and bricks.

Jaya gave a sack to Velu too and asked him to help her. She explained to him that she picks all the scrap materials from here and there and then sells them to the scrapper. The scrapper sells them to the factories. thus, Velu also became a ragpicker now. However, he decided that as soon as he gets some other job, he will quit his job of a ragpicker.

Theme/Message

The theme of the story conveys the harsh realities of poverty, child labor, and survival. It highlights how children, like Velu, are forced to make difficult choices to survive in challenging environments. The story also emphasizes the importance of resilience and adaptability, as Velu learns to navigate the complexities of city life with the help of Jaya. It shows the struggles children face when they are deprived of basic care and opportunities, and the difficult road they must travel to find safety, security, and a better future.

Difficult Words

• Pulled in– arrived
• Wobbly– unsteady
• Porter– a person employed to carry luggage and other loads, especially in a railway station, airport, hotel or market 
• Sack– a large bag made of a strong material such as hessian, thick paper, or plastic, used for storing and carrying goods 
• Grimace– an ugly, twisted expression on a person’s face, typically expressing disgust, pain, or wry amusement
• Peeped over– To glance or peer shyly, quickly, or inconspicuously over the top of something
• Grinned– smile broadly
• Squinted– look at someone or something with one or both eyes partly closed in an attempt to see more clearly or as a reaction to strong light 
• Blasted– (here) strike
• Mandapam– (in southern India) a temple porch; a temporary platform set up for weddings and religious ceremonies
• Shaking her thumb under his nose– express scorn or ridicule 
• Gulped– swallow (drink or food) quickly or in large mouthfuls, often audibly 
• Trickle– (of a liquid) flow in a small stream
• Triplicane– Triplicane, also known as Thiruvallikeni, is one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Chennai, India.
• Puddles– a small pool of liquid, especially of rainwater on the ground
• Crookedly– at an irregular or improper angle.  
• Shove– push (someone or something) roughly