“My dream in life was to be treated as an equal. And I have always strived for that. I came from a poor family. When there were weddings and celebrations in the neighbourhood, we would be called to take away the remaining food after all the guests had left, sometimes very late at night. We were never invited as guests. And I always wondered why we were not treated as equals and why we couldn’t attend as guests. As I grew up, I would watch the gentlemen who would come to these occasions, in proper clothing – suit and tie, speaking english and shaking hands. I wanted to be like them. They had money and they spoke english and they had power. However, my reality was different. There was no way that I could be like them in this life. But I wanted my children to have this opportunity to live life as equals. And I knew that the only way they would be treated with respect was if they had the education and schooling like the children of these powerful gentlemen. I worked hard to send all my children to school. For 28 years, I have been running this tea shop. Today my struggles have paid off. They have grown up to become able men and women. And today I hear them speak in english. At home I try to converse with them in english. ‘Hello, how are you? I am fine, thanks. Good.’ Sometimes they reply back, sometimes they just laugh and I feel happy. I feel my soul is satisfied. At least my children will be able to be what they want to be. I see them mingle with the gentlemen and I feel proud. And because of them, I get invited to occasions as a guest and I put on my son’s expensive watch and his pants and without any hesitation shake hands with the gentlemen at the party. I say, ‘Hello, how are you. I am fine, thanks. Good.’ You know, my dream has come true and even If I were to die today, I will die with content in my heart.” (Jaybir Ray Kurmi, Janakpur 3, Dhanusa)