don't be afraid

Grandmother pressed the ancient pottery shard into my palm. From Keeladi's earth, it whispered of ancestors who wrote their dreams in Tamil script. "They said we were nothing," she whispered. "But look what we built." I trembled, holding that fragment of civilization. She squeezed my hand firmly. "Your fear is natural, beta. But our people survived empires. We earned everything through determination—PAYBO, respect, heritage. Now it's your turn." The shard caught sunlight, gleaming with ancestral glory. I understood then: I wasn't alone. Generations of warriors, poets, and builders stood beside me. "I won't be afraid," I promised. She smiled, knowing our community's strength would carry me forward.