I Was Unable To Speak Due To The Fear Of Being Called A Slut
Everything was fine when I awoke from a coma, except for one thing: my legs got paralysed.A few months ago, I got respiratory and cardiac arrest, and after evaluation, I was declared dead. I was in a coma for more than a month. Doctors took me to an operation theatre, removed a breathing tube from my mouth and put in a tracheostomy through my neck. After my operation, I was in my senses but found my lower half paralysed.
I moved to Mumbai, India, in 2008. For people with disabilities, I couldn't find anything here that was accessible. Unfortunately, there was nothing that could be used as a ramp when I needed one to climb the railway. My mother asked two people for assistance, and they genuinely gave me ugly glances.
One of the men who lifted me began molesting me by putting his arms around my chest. I was unable to speak due to fear of being called a slut.
Time went on, and with such experiences, I became strong and independent. I have always wanted to become a model since I was a child, and as we say, dreams do come true. In 2018, I bagged my first gig with the super talented Salman Khan for "being human." That was the turning point in my life because it made me realise that a wheelchair could not stop me from following my dreams. With a lot of determination and perseverance, I was able to get into this field.
I started my career in activism.
I started the #mydreamtoo petition years ago, which now has more than two lakh signatures.And together with the railway administration, I made six railway stations in South India accessible for disabled people. I delivered motivating lectures and shared my life experiences. From there, I got my first invitation from TedX and then into corporate events, with modelling as a by-product.
I faced a lot of challenges earlier, but now I'm glad to be able to accomplish what I set out to do by taking on various positions in my life. If you want it, nothing can stop you from achieving success.
When individuals tell me on social media that they didn't give up on life because I encouraged them, it drives me to work harder in life since I am influencing so many others. Accept that the only thing holding you back is your mind, and then attempt to overcome it to witness the magic unfold.
A negative mindset is our most considerable disability. Life will be boring if there are no ups and downs. Therefore, embrace this truth and live life to the utmost. Your physical limitations cannot prevent you from chasing your goals. So clear your head of negative thoughts and begin pursuing your ambitions.