“I was 24 when my uncle came across an ad by the Mumbai Fire Brigade– they were looking to hire their very first batch of female officers. My father excitedly encouraged me to apply! He said, ‘What an opportunity this is for women!’ I applied thinking it would be a 9-5 office job. It never struck my mind that women were meant to serve as firefighters– I had only ever seen male firefighters in movies! But when I arrived at the centre, I saw the fire fighters swing into action and leave in a fire truck in less than 60 seconds, I was inspired! I was an athlete in school and aced my physical tests! 10 of us were selected to be part of the first batch; my parents were ecstatic! I always wanted a career that was challenging; one where I could give back! And firefighting checked all these boxes for me– I was raring to go! I was always the first to turn up for drills like dealing with heavy water hoses and lifting dummies twice my weight! I’d do pushups and wake up early to practice in the storeroom so I could be at par with the men! Our officers would tell us, ‘Hard times don’t create heroines. It’s during the hard times when the heroines within us are revealed!’ I remember my first fire call; a temple where the ceiling had collapsed. The cement was wet and a woman was stuck in it. I had to react quickly as the cement was drying. I was able to drag her out! After the mission, her mother cried and thanked me! In 2018, I had a close shave with death during the Crystal Tower fire. I saved 13 people and two pregnant women. I was on the 12th floor and the fire was spreading quickly. I saw an old lady lying on the floor. Somehow, I dragged her out before the ceiling collapsed; she survived! But the best part of my profession is that the people I rescue never forget me. Once at a function, a lady I saved recognized me and said, 'I’m alive because of you!’ Through it all, my family has always been supportive! Never did they pressure me to get married. In fact, they’d tell my brothers, ‘Get inspired and serve like your brave sister!’ When I decided to find suitors, I wasn’t ‘womanly’ enough for a lot of them. I’d be asked, ‘Will you quit your night shift?’ and ‘If you serve outside, who will serve the home?’ I was glad when I finally met a man who told me, ‘I wish I was brave enough to do what you do. I’ll always support your dreams.’ We got married in 2016, and a year later, I gave birth to a baby boy. While I’m on duty, my parents or husband take care of him. I'm afraid of the reality that one day I can lose my life in a fire; every firefighter lives with that thought. But when I’m saluted by children when I walk out in my uniform, I feel more proud than scared. And I want other women to feel that too; that they can create their own path. We all have the fire within ourselves to be who we want to be… we just need to strike the match.”