Green Grass

He was a young man in his mid-thirties — ambitious, bright, and full of energy. A rising star in a major U.S.-based organisation, he had a clear goal: to climb the ladder quickly and make his mark. And for the most part, he succeeded.

After a few years, though, the excitement of his work in India began to fade. He wanted more — new experiences, new challenges — and the dream of working abroad began to take shape. Being capable and determined, he soon found the opportunity he was looking for.

After the inevitable months of visa paperwork, health checks, and formalities, he finally moved to California.

At first, everything felt magical. He found a beautiful apartment, loved his job, and soaked in the newness of it all. Life felt like a dream come true.

But after a few months, the shine began to fade. The silence of the wide roads, the lack of people, and the long, quiet evenings started to weigh on him. He had few friends, and the work culture was very different from what he was used to back home. People were polite but distant. Collaboration felt less spontaneous. He often felt left out of casual jokes and conversations.

Slowly, nostalgia began to creep in. Even simple things — like driving on the road where everyone strictly followed rules — made him feel oddly out of place. He began to miss the chaos, the warmth, the easy laughter of home.

When we spoke, he was reflective and low. Over several conversations, he began to weigh the pros and cons of his journey — what he had gained and what he had lost. One day, he looked up and said quietly:

“Why is it that when I was in India, I wanted to be here — and now that I’m here and settled, I want to go back? Is the grass really greener on the other side?”

And then, after a pause, he smiled.

“You know what? As I was talking to you, I realised — the grass isn’t greener there or here.

 It’s green where I water it.”

It was a moment of calm clarity — that happiness doesn’t come from where we are, but from how we nurture what we have.

Reflection:

 Sometimes, we chase distant dreams believing they’ll complete us. But often, peace grows right where we stand — when we learn to care for the life we already have.