In the Tea Gardens

I was in high school,

a village girl, with limited travel,

poor outlook.

My sister was a lecturer

in a local college.

She got a book from the library

that had pictures of Northeast India,

mountains, massive rivers,

clouds, and rain,

green slopes and tea fields.

I wanted to go there.

But how?

We were a family of limited means,

it will remain dreams.

I focused on my studies,

cleared national tests,

and then destiny gave,

PhD opportunity

with a good scholarship

right there,

where I had wanted to go.

I got the chance to travel,

explore hills tea shrubs.

Dreams indeed materialize,

if not always, sometimes,

if we are willing,

to do the hard work.