Sayad Ahmed Ali Inter College

Starting the day in Gaus Ganj usually begins with unlocking the main gate of Sayad Ahmed Ali Inter College. It is a bit of a walk from the main road in Hardoi, and by the time the first bell rings, the dust has already settled on the desks. We have been here for a good while now, just doing what needs to be done for the local kids who come from the nearby villages. The building is older, with thick walls that stay somewhat cool in the summer, though the fans do most of the work when the power stays on. You can hear the hum of the town outside, but once the lessons start, things settle down into a rhythm. It is not a place with shiny new things or fancy hallways, but it works for what we need. Most of the staff live around here too, so we see the parents at the market or the bus stop frequently. There is a lot of paperwork to handle every afternoon, and sometimes the roof leaks a little when the monsoon hits hard. We just put a bucket under it and keep going. Teaching here is about getting through the day and making sure the students have their books and a place to sit. It is a straightforward life in this part of Hardoi, just keeping the school running day after day without much fuss.