Fortunate (v2)

I walked through nights with books in my hands,

Chasing a dream, doing all that I can.

Tenth grade came, I stood first that year,

But many hands helped me get there.

My class teachers guided me through,

Teachers from other classes helped me too.

They never had to, but chose to stay,

And every lesson lit my way.

Then eleventh brought a harder fight,

Surgery and sickness, days without light.

My close friends stayed when I fell behind,

Helping me find my way each time.

My parents stood, my strongest pillars,

Believing in me through my darkest winters.

When I doubted what I could become,

They believed until my strength returned.

[Verse 2]

Since I was young, one dream was mine—

To become an IAS, to serve, to shine.

Then twelfth grade came, and COVID changed

The world, my plans, the road I had arranged.

From a humble home, I needed a way

that could bring income sooner,

So I chose a practical road to support my family

Engineering, Computer Science—

Another door opened before my eyes.

Maatram Foundation introduced me

To a college I never thought I'd reach.

My college sponsored my education,

While Maatram guided me through every season.

Alumni and mentors walked beside me,

Training, guiding, helping me believe.

Through opportunities and placements too,

They helped me build the future I knew.

[Verse 3]

Soon after college began, someone believed,

Chose to invest in the person I could be.

They gave me the laptop I needed to grow,

A quiet reminder: you can go.

Then came my first internship,

Someone from another state took a chance.

Though they barely knew me,

They trusted potential over experience.

They gave me projects,

They gave me a start,

And somewhere in that journey

I found the developer in my heart.

Then came my first job,

Through opportunities Maatram helped create.

And once again, good people came

And made my first workplace a kinder place.

Four years of college,

One year in IT,

And the dream from my childhood

came back to me.

IAS.

It never really disappeared,

I only walked another road for years.

Now I prepare again with hope in my heart,

And another door gave me a start.

Ravi Kapoor IRS,

Through a scholarship that helped my way,

Partly supporting my coaching,

Giving hope another day.

There were people who hurt me,

Heartbreaks, health, and days of doubt.

There were times I felt so small,

But still I found a way back out.

I got up.

I moved on.

I kept walking toward the dawn.

And every time life changed my way,

Another door appeared someday.

So whenever life opens a door for me,

I'll walk through it gratefully.

And when I'm strong enough to do the same,

I'll open one for someone else.

Because I know what it means

to be given a chance.

I know what it means

to be believed in.

I know what it means

to have a dream return.

So if someday I forget

how I came this far,

I'll remember every hand,

every soul,

every open door.

And I'll say—

I am fortunate.

Not because life was easy

But because at every turn I had someone.

Grateful for every open door