Love and Courage over Tragedy! -Pramodini Roul.

 TRIGGER WARNING: Acid Attack, Graphic images

“I was 16 when the elections were around and paramilitary forces had been allotted near my college. There was a 28-year-old Odia man in the troop who started stalking me and eventually sent a proposal of marriage to my family. Our closest kinfolk, who had been a constant support after my father's death, turned down the proposal. The rejection was hard on him and thus, began the eve-teasing on a daily basis. 

Days after, he somehow got my house’s telephone number and called multiple times to convince my family and verbally abused them when they said NO. One evening while returning back home, he appeared out of nowhere and pestered me to get married to him at a temple. I narrated the event to my cousin, who then lost his cool and went to warn him! He challenged him that none of his tactics would ever work and BOOM! went the male-ego. 

Months later, we got a call from him again; he wanted to speak to me for the last time. He told me how he was aware of my dreams and that he wouldn’t bother me or my family anymore. His words were too good to be true! For a while, there was no sign of him. Life was back to normal. 

18th of April ’09 around 6:30PM, my cousin and me were on our way back home when a motorbike approached us and I could see him with a bottle in his hand, at the back seat. I was shook. Within half a minute, the bike stopped in front of us. He intimidated me to come with him. Arguments later, he said I’d regret the consequences if I did not give in.

When I ignored, he started to open the bottle and poured it over my head- I was screaming, I could feel my skin melt, my hair falling, my body burning. They both fled away. He looked back to say,” if you can’t be mine, then I won’t let you be anyone else’s!”.

I was taken to a hospital in Jagatsinghpur (without first aid). They referred me to Cuttack. It was supposed to be a one-hour journey, but the ambulance broke down mid-way and there were none available. We had started at 10:30pm and reached Cuttack by 4am. I was admitted in the ICU for nine months. My eyes were out; I went completely blind. I was in coma for 27 hours. My body was paralysed and I was brought home in utter hopelessness. I spent 2009 to 2014 in paralysis. My mother was the only one who kept me going. 

My family had given up, when a doctor suggested admission to Physiotherapy. In January 2014, I was taken to Life Care Nursing Home in Cuttack that has a Physiotherapy Centre under Dr R.N. Das. He examined my damaged nerves but couldn’t guarantee any improvement for years. A lady nurse at the place got her friends to show them my state. Among them was Saroj! 

Saroj spoke to Maa about the incident. He used to drop by casually. He had never seen me; I was always under covers. The first time he saw me without, he was taken aback. Something strangely connected him to us. His visits became more frequent. 3 months in, we couldn’t afford the medical costs anymore. The staff threatened us and our stuff was thrown out. 

Saroj came to our defense. I was shifted to a better place- he took responsibility and the doctor treated me for free. The nurse (former friend of Saroj) didn't like what had been up. Saroj, in the heat of moments, challenged her that he’ll make me walk in 4 months. Saroj resigned the same day and spent full-time working on me. The hard work doubled- 12 hours a day, 2 neurologists were hired and the process began! Hope bloomed when I hardly got back on my feet in 4 months. Saroj had believed in me throughout. Only Love can cure in such times, was his principle. 

Growing up, I was molested by a brother and a teacher and the acid attack was by an Army personnel; we’re always taught to respect soldiers, teachers, elders- but these incidents broke me. Saroj changed my view of men.

 

I went home in 2015 and Saroj came along during weekends. We practiced walking at nights so that I don’t face reactions of the villagers. Saroj’s family had been against him. I couldn’t help blaming myself for everything people I loved had to go through. I decided to leave Odisha.

I never considered myself eligible for anybody’s love, post the incident. Saroj’s family disturbances made me decide upon leaving Odisha. I wanted to fight for myself and take a stand but didn’t know how. I approached a cousin who surfed the internet to find ways how an acid-attack survivor can endure. We found a Delhi-based NGO ‘Chhanv Foundation’ and wrote to them. Alok Dixit contacted me in October 2015 and made arrangements for the shifting in 2 months. They were complete strangers to me but I just wanted to get away. 

Persuading Maa and breaking out the news to Saroj was difficult, but on reaching Delhi, I realised I am NOT ALONE. There came hope. I worked with their campaigns, became a  Board Member, spoke at events. I still had 20% vision in one eye, all this while. The team then decided that I go for the operation in 2017. Chances of gaining back my eyes weren’t great, but the operation was successful, though I could see only silhouettes, initially. 

I reopened my case in September 2017. It was difficult since the person was in Army and in a good position. I met the CM, Naveen Babu; he asked me what I really wanted. “Justice for myself and all the pending cases to reopen”, was my reply. Within the next few days, on 25th November, at 2 in the morning- he was arrested. 

I decided to start campaigning about Acid Attack Awareness in Odisha, in connection with ‘Chhanv Foundation’. My team has 11 survivors now- all brave and proud. We have "Sheroes Hangouts" in Agra and Lucknow- which is the first to employ acid attack survivors. 

Meanwhile, in January 2016, Saroj had proposed to me. We were separated by distance, but always connected at hearts. We got engaged in 2018 and together, we have been working out campaigns. We’ll fight our way through. I can’t wait to spend a lifetime with Saroj and I’m immensely grateful to have him in my life.” - Pramodini Roul.

Diseases are NOT a joke! - Sadasha Das

"It's been two years since I got my gallbladders removed. From childhood, I'd always fancied getting an operation, I'd even pray to God to get one of my limbs broken so I could get it plastered and be in the hospital for some days(this is what I thought happened when you break a limb) and people would come, write nice things on my plaster. I have always wanted to be the Aman from Kal Ho Na Ho. I thought a serious disease makes you happier  because you know you wouldn't live long enough, so you start "living in the moment" and become the centre of attention. 

But, reality hit me hard when the symptoms started showing(i.e. severe back pain and nausea every time I ate something spicy or fast food or excess food). We considered it to be gastric issue and since my father is in the health sector, we always had medicines for common illness. After numerous episodes of this painful drama, I went through an ultrasound and was detected of having stones in my gallbladder. In a week, I was admitted in the hospital(Dream come true!). I'd text my bestfriend that I was excited for the operation.

During my stay, a number of people came to visit, some very irritating ( because they had loud debates on religion inside my room), my best friends and brothers. Then, I was taken home and I had to strictly eat just boiled stuff for like 5-6 weeks and no outside/spicy food for 6 months. 

The whole thing changed a lot in me. Initially, I had hormonal issues, skin problems, which have reduced a lot now, but now, I  have a messed up appetite. Sometimes, I am craving food like I've been hungry for days and then there are times, I won't even be able to complete half a plate of biryani(something I would trade half of my life for). All of this has taught that no suffering is ever cool, attention is not equal to love, getting an operation isn't a big deal and is painful, there is no adventure in any disease, my friends writing good things about me on my birthday is better than writing them on my plaster.I, sometimes, watch my operation video and it gives me a weird feeling of how one organ could be missing from my body and how I am a total idiot in general!" - Sadasha Das

A Second Chance! - Simran Chhotray

"I was a different kid since birth. After Maa delivered me, I stayed on ventilator for 21 days because my life expectancy was very low. I was never anyone's favorite kid (not in case of my parents , but that of others). On the other hand, my sister was loved by all. My sister and I went to the same school and I was always compared with her by our friends and teachers.

When I was 14, I had my first operation. For a kid who had barely grown up, the operation theatre was a nightmare. The days in the hospital were painful. After nine months of the operation, I had another one.Years went by, I finished my 10th and moved out to another school. I never really had any friends over those past years. When I moved to the other school, I made good friends and found my best friend. I felt blessed after she came into my life.

During my board exams, out of nowhere my back started to ache. I thought it was because of my late night schedule, but slowly the pain started to increase and I could barely sit for like five minutes. After my boards got over, I went to see a neurosurgeon. People say, doctors are next to God, but I never believed in it. My perception changed when I met Dr. Narendra Kumar Das. I had never seen a doctor so cool, happy and understanding.

When he examined my issue, he said that it was a very rare condition. Apparently, it was a dead vein that should've ended in my L1 bone, but was extended to L5 and because of that I had backache. The only option I had was surgery.My success rate was 20 out of 100. If the surgery was unsuccessful, then it would've led me to use a wheelchair forever. The eight hour surgery was successful. I'll never forget the man who gave me a second life.

It was in 3rd year of my college when I opened an organization, Guardians of Greenery', to aware people about climate change. It's been a year to my organization and it's running well. Today, I write stories and poems. From a baby who barely survived, never fit in and had three operations to a girl who is writing poems, fighting depression and establishing an organization, I've come a long way." - Simran Chhotray

Not Fair but surely Lovely! -Sangopana Mohanty

“My teachers never selected me for welcoming guests in school functions, guess why? Cause I was too dusky to fit their pretty! I remember my classmates telling me to apply creams just so I could look fair. Growing up with dusky skin and constant heckling, I have learnt to love my self gradually and I’m so proud of that.

I was in class 12th when I wasn't able to study and got anxious for no reason. There had been days when I used to cry every night without any reason. Those were kind of worst days. I was suffering from anxiety issues that I was unaware of. I’ve had friends dismissing me with- “You just don't look like an anxious person.”

There may be thousands of people around me, but I feel lonely and I can’t help it. I feel like a burden on everyone- friends, family, everyone. Thank God that I'm blessed with friends and my sister who really have been with me through thick and think, helped me to raise my self-confidence from scratch. 

There will always be worst days as much as best ones. If you’re reading this, please don’t forget to have appreciate the littlest of things around you every day. If you haven’t smiled today, take this as a sign. SMILE!”   -Sangopana Mohanty

Family: The Forever Happy Place! - Shalini Tirkey

"My childhood was spent with my cousins, aunts and other people around me. My parents were away because of their work. Hence, I couldn't have a stable state of mind.

My first day of school was terrible. My parents were getting me ready for school, but an accident happened at home and my mother was admitted to the hospital. My father took her and I was left at home with my grandmother. Amidst the mess, I remember my father telling me, ''Try to wear those clothes[uniform] and shoes, Beta''. My father came home, took me to the school and we were an hour late as there was no one to take me to school. The teachers weren't allowing me into the class. After heaps of requests made by my father, I got in. 

Life has been a struggle mentally. My mother used to stay out of the city for years for work. We used to stay apart from each other always. As I grew up, I realised this was not common in other families. Though we had all the things we wanted or we thought of, a certain distance had developed between the family members. My friends had become my family. 

Then, lockdown happened. This was the time when four (parents, sister and me) of us stayed home and realised what staying together as a family means. Lockdown taught us how relationships work and it gave us time to introspect. During this time, I also found my happy place in cooking, credit goes to my dearest friend. We also started an Instagram page (Clueless Flavours).

Life feels smooth right now. My family and friends help me in making my dreams a reality. I can see the tight knot in our family's relationship thread loosening up and the distance between us fading." - Shalini Tirkey.

Teens se Teen(3)! - Asutosh Das, Sandeepa Das

“We met over Orkut back when we were young and dumb. I was 18, she was 16. We were complete contrast characters in a way- I was this happy go-lucky guy, devoid of the worldly worries and she was this lovable, caring and such an understanding teen girl. After talking for a while, we decided to meet. The anxiety behind the first date pressure held no bounds. In no time, it just felt so right to both of us. Our late-night calls, g-mail conversations and weekend meets had turned into a routine for 2 months- when one rainy afternoon, on the 11th of July 2008, I finally proposed to her. She said ‘Yes!’ and our dates became more frequent, the tone of our chats changed, new pet names were exchanged. After all, she was my first love and I was hers! 

On the backdrop, there had been hurdles. She had quite a few stalkers that I had to chase away… We always communicated and didn’t let misunderstandings come in our way. We gave each other the breathing space, which often lacks in relationships sometimes. We graduated, got into professional IT services but all through this, we had one thing in common- our commitment towards each other. By then, we both were evolved beings than when we had first met. 

After being together for 8 long years, we got hitched in 2016. Our families got along very well. Soon after, we brought the symbol of our love into this world, the apple of everyone’s eye- Ayaansh!

Life is exactly how we see it. Belief is something we thrive on and being committed is a matter of choice, and stability is the need of the hour. The ongoing pandemic is a testament to the fact that those who stay rooted to their base are happier than the unstable ones. I’m so glad to have Sandeepa in my life. We are madly in love, today and every day!” - Asutosh Das

Of Abandonment, Resilience and Success! -Suraj Chhatoi

"I was 10 when my family was abandoned by a ‘Sahi Committee’ in Cuttack. My father was the secretary of that committee. We were financially fragile. His increasing supporters and well-wishers in that local area outnumbered his haters. Out of jealousy, they created a strategy to charge him falsely... It led to us not being able to communicate with any person in that area. We could neither participate in any functions. My father was about to commit suicide. Our godowns and rented houses had been burnt by people.

 “This phase is the most important one for our family, my son. We have to win and there’s no quitting for us!”, he had said. And that was it. The phase after that was a magical one. Dad put all his focus in business and by God’s grace, it surged within some years. He cracked impossible deals in Odisha and went on to win prestigious Governor’s Award for his entrepreneurial and philanthropic works.

 I grew up and started writing. I didn’t have any idea about it, but it felt nice to write everything on paper because I knew that it wouldn’t cheat me later. I published my first book when I was 16. Thus, began a beautiful journey. Till now, I have written six books, out of which 4 were best sellers. My Odia book (biography of my father- ‘Eka Gharikiya’) was nominated for ‘Kendriya Sahitya Akademy Yuva Samman’ Award. It was a regional best seller that bagged me 2017 Youth Icon Award. I left my job to join my family business and started my own factory in Odisha. Currently, my father is a respected personality not just in Cuttack, but in the state. 

So, here’s a reminder that everyone is special here. Don’t worry if the sunset is nearer, remember that the sun must set to rise!" - Suraj Chhatoi

Breaking Stereotypes! - Sunil Saha

"I was 18 years old, pursuing my Bachelor's degree in Commerce when I realized that a conventional job wouldn't interest me. It was then that I realised my passion and started chasing my dream of becoming a MUA. People often ask me from where I got inspired to become a make-up artist. I have always been fascinated seeing the ladies in my house putting on make-up, not for merely concealing the flaws, but to feel more confident. It certainly makes people feel invincible.

In the beginning, I didn't get the support of my father. He wanted me to get into a traditional job, due to the burdens of societal expectations. Starting everything from scratch, was hard. But, I knew I was gonna make a difference and remained dedicated towards my goal. After much persuasion from my mother and seeing my hardwork and determination, my father was finally convinced.  I took my first step towards the fulfillment of my dream. I received professional training in New Delhi, got the much needed exposure, was introduced to the big names in this industry. All these things just filled me with a whole new zeal. I was motivated to work harder.

It hasn't been a cakewalk for me. I have had my fair share of hardships. When I started out, people used to call me names, and homophobic slurs such as "Chhakka", tried to make me feel emasculated for the profession I had chosen. I felt dejected at times. But, by constantly keeping a positive attitude, I succeeded in breaking the gender stereotype associated to the occupation and earned respect of people. I established the potential of makeup as an appropriate profession, not only for women, but for anyone who is an artist by heart. After a year and a half, by the grace of the Almighty, constant support from family and friends, I set up my first makeup studio in my hometown, Baripada.

I never submitted to failure nor admitted defeat. I have been a make-up artist for 3 years now, and I still feel the same passion for this job as I did when I was just starting out. If you look closer, you can see, beneath every stroke of my colour palate is a world of grit, hardwork and determination. Follow your passion and work hard for it."-  Sunil Saha

Love against all odds! -Sulva Panda

“Being a popular school kid, I had never faced any major issues in life. I did well in academics and had everything I needed. I was three when I first watched ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, and had believed in love at first sight ever since. In the nineth grade, I thought I had found “the prince charming” of my life. But, eventually, things worsened and I walked out of the relationship.

I was 16 when this guy with his noisy group near the staircase caught my attention, as I walked past them. ’What kind of a guy...huh!’ was my first thought. Our paths crossed often, but my opinion about him never changed. Though we had mutual friends, we never spoke to each other but, I’d often catch him looking at me in the school. One day, our friends were busy and couldn’t walk back home with us so it was us alone for the first time. He didn’t have the courtesy to greet me, but offered me a chewing gum. We conversed and exchanged our numbers. He texted that very day and after conversing, I realized that he was already aware of almost all my likes and dislikes without me telling him.

He proposed to me and after eight days, I said a ‘yes’ and we started dating. His way of taking care and being concerned literally left me blushing. On our farewell, we exchanged glances filled with hope and breaking up was put out of question. We both dropped a year to prepare for medical examinations and evolved into a much better duo. Belonging to a typical Odia family, dating was hard. With restrictions, there was a lot of chaos in the family; we weren’t allowed to meet each other. I couldn’t clear my medical entrance exams. I slipped into depression and required medical attention. We had turned total strangers. My parents understood my mental state and tried to communicate with me in a friendly manner; my friends made me believe that ‘if it is meant to be, it’ll be!’

After eight long months, we met, both broken. Gradually, we started talking and realised we were unable to move on, so we got back together. Today we’re 23 and when we look back, we laugh at the 16 y/o selves. Out of all the filmy love-stories, ours is my favourite and our love would be an inspiration for my children.” – Sulva Panda