Nothing is impossible

By Archisha Mondal

This story is about a little girl named Milly who dreams of becoming an astronaut. She lives in a village in Tamil Nadu and has a keen interest in reading books about the solar system and the Earth. A significant supporter of her dreams is her grandfather, who has preserved books from his ancestors about space and its wonders because he loves the moon and its beauty. Milly wishes for everyone in her village to appreciate science and its value, even though the village doesn’t strongly support women having dreams or working. Many people in the village were illiterate and started working at an early age as child laborers to earn money.

One day, while playing near the pond with her dog near the main farm, Milly discovers a moonstone lying on the ground. Delighted by finding something so precious, especially after witnessing a meteor shower in her village the day before, she rushes to show her grandfather this beautiful gem. However, upon entering the room, she finds her grandfather peacefully lying on the bed. Despite calling him multiple times, there is no response. Worried, she quickly calls her parents, and it is discovered that her grandfather has passed away. Devastated by the loss, Milly wanted to give the moonstone to her grandfather as a way of holding onto this memory and becoming even more motivated to pursue her dreams.

As Milly grows up, she becomes increasingly interested in science and secretly studies in nearby libraries during the night. Despite facing opposition from her parents and the villagers, she remains determined and leaves her village to pursue her dreams. Eventually, she secured a position at NASA, making her parents proud and proving that she was capable of achieving her dreams. When she calls her parents to share the news, they realise their mistake and understand that they should have supported her from the beginning.

Before going to sleep, Milly takes out the old moonstone she had kept safely and whispers with tears, “Gramps, I’ve finally climbed up to that peak from where I can see everything clearly. Thank you for everything.”