The book of life made her a victim, but she penned an inspirational story!
Each one of us goes through difficulties in life, but what is important is how we deal with them. Today, we bring to you an inspirational story about a woman who uplifted herself and many in need!
Papa was martyred in a bomb blast when I was just 9 months old, making Mumma a single mother at 25. She joined the same police department as Papa to carry on his legacy. Hearing stories of Papa’s bravery and watching Mumma be a living example was inspirational. I wanted to be like them—to do good.
But when I was 14, I rejected a boy who’d asked me out – he decided to take revenge by hiring goons to throw acid on me. The left side of my body was burnt; the pain was unbearable! I was in the hospital for a month. My physical scars faded after a year, but that incident scarred my soul. People would shame me, ‘It’s the way you dress; you asked for it!’
But my friends and family helped me stay strong. They motivated me and were my biggest support system. I’d just started to heal. But when I was 18, I was molested by a family friend. I escaped his clutches, but I kept quiet, fearing that Mumma would blame herself. That night broke me; I became afraid of all men. Soon after, the same man preyed on his own daughters. When they confided in me, I realized that I had to raise my voice! I told Mumma, and we put a stop to it by telling his entire family.
And a few years later, I even found a partner, but he turned abusive. My past experiences had made me stronger–strong enough to walk away. So, I left him.
.My determination to do something for others grew stronger. I worked hard, and at 26, registered my own NGO. I named it ‘Shaheed Ramashray Welfare Society’ after Papa because he was such an inspirational person in my life. I rescued girls from prostitution and rehabilitated people from the streets of Bareilly. We have 100+ children at our center, where we teach them self-defense and other skills. I’ve touched 1000+ lives in the last 4 years!
During my journey, I met Anaika at an orphanage. She was hearing & speech impaired—I arranged funds for her cochlear implant. Watching her get better, I experienced the joy of motherhood for the first time. I’d tell Mumma, ‘I’m meant to be a mother—I can feel it!’
So I registered for adoption. Adoption was a grueling process because I was single. I didn’t know my child yet, but her room had been ready for months—I’d sit there and pray that they’d grant me a child. After a long wait, my prayers were answered—Vanmayi came home. It was the happiest day of my life!
After that, my life revolved around her. I’d stay up all night to make sure she was okay, and I taught her how to read and write. She was my dream come true.
Even if I had to do it alone, I was destined to be a mother. I tell Vanmayi, ‘You didn’t come from Mumma’s body, but you came from her soul.’ And she’s inspired me to adopt more children! For the past year, I’ve been providing for 2 other girls–Faith and Serene–who live in Africa. We talk on video call every day; I can’t wait for the day I finally get to meet them! Vanmayi has already started picking out dolls for her didis to play with! Every time the 3 of them call me ‘Mumma,’ it erases every sorrow I’ve ever experienced!”
Humans of Bombay is all about bringing you extraordinary stories of ordinary people. In sharing such inspirational stories, we hope you get some hope and feel inspired enough to make a difference in someone’s life. If you’d like to read more such stories, check out our book and dive into the diverse tales of Bombay.
2 Comments
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Arva Rege
So inspiring! You are so brave!
Nisha
One person going through so much...it's heartbreaking. But it's amazing how she's picked herself up and is now helping more such women! Kudos to her!! (y)