Dare to Dream

The tunnel was dark and muggy. One could hear multiple footsteps and whirring sounds of machines moving to and fro. During the night, one could easily see the lights scattered inside the tunnel and it appeared as if someone has lit the dotted illuminating spots.

Hari, a teenager who was one of the workers, was inside the tunnel with his friends. His adversity made him work for little money that too under this terrible condition. Within few minutes, I heard someone's footsteps coming outwards. It was Hari, with spade and other tools in his hands, black soot smudged all over his face and clad in ragged cloth. He appeared as if an apparition in the dark night. All he had was a smile on his face. He called out his friends out and while wiping the soot from his face, shouted, " Hey everyone, let's sit down and eat something. It's been 18 hours we all have been inside and haven't eaten well". They all agreed and one by one started joining Hari for an ordinary dinner. They opened their boxes, none of them had a proper meal so to say. All they had was few stale folded chappatis, overflowing with pickle oil.

They enjoyed that meal. May be for them, it was a sumptuous one.

Looking at the sky one of them said, "I never wanted to come and work here" But apart from this I had no option". Another boy mentioned, " Brother, this is our destiny, my father also worked here, so I am." He laughed and pointing towards his forehead said, " It is all written here". Others also giggled and started eating. Manoj, the only boy who had completed his secondary education in his village was also there. He said, "There is nothing written on your forehead, it is what you accept as your destiny as it is given to you". He continued, " We all can change our so- called destinies and rather than digging this tunnel for money, we all can achieve big dreams. My father wanted me to earn money, but my mother wanted me to study". He spoke about his mother, "She told me to dream. What if we all are poor, what if our fathers are unemployed with absolutely zero source of income, we can still dream big it doesn't cost anything does it?".

In the meanwhile, Hari asked him, " What is your dream Manoj?" My mother never said this to me. She says that I am meant to work here only. "So does my mother", added the other one.

Manoj said, "I want to go to a college and study. I want to help poor children like us to achieve big, dream big. This is only possible with education. Here in this village, we have no choice than to get up early, do household chores, move to tunnel for money, come back at midnight. Is this the only purpose of our lives?"

Manoj emerged as the torch bearer for all these boys and gradually they started helping each other and finishing each other's work so that they can be back earlier.

As time rolled by, all these boys left the digging work at the tunnel one by one.

With their little knowledge and little source of income, they moved to a nearby town and learned the basics of computer and very basic level of spoken English.

They all started working for the betterment of their village and also started contributing towards educating the girls.

Manoj helped all the boys to dream. He told them how to dream. Accepting your destiny, the way as it is, isn't courageous. One must challenge and push the boundaries of your limitations to dream big.