When an unexpected incident makes your life a roller coaster ride, what you do next will decide your success or failure. Abhilasha had her hearing aids on after fits seizure damaged her veins that night. After all the bullying she faced in life and thought she had just enough, life took a turn and a lot changed for her. However, it did not happen overnight like in movies. The amount of hard work she put in is applaudable and impeccable.
Read the story of Abhilasha Veeraraghavan and get enough motivation and inspiration for the day (story originates from Humans of Madras):
Photo courtesy: Humans of Madras
“I was sleeping with my family one night when suddenly I succumbed to fits seizure. In the middle of the night I was taken to a doctor in the apartment we lived in Andheri, Mumbai. Her treatment did stop my seizure but it affected my auditory veins. When I was around two years old my parents found that I couldn’t hear properly. By this time we moved to Hyderabad and doctors there confirmed it as a damaged auditory vein. There wasn’t any cure and it was the beginning of most of my troubles. I was rejected by many schools and finally moved to Chennai where I was put in a normal school with other children. They acknowledged my presence but started to mistreat me. Loneliness never really bothered as much as how they hurt me both physically and emotionally. My schoolmates used to pelt stones at me and throw my hearing aids in water. I had to cover up my injuries every day from my parents. It was a tough phase to get through. I had no support and I was a little kid. This is when I felt bad and also realized how insincerely doing one’s duty without any dedication results in other’s suffering.”
Picture courtesy: Humans of Madras
“Later, I studied in the same school as my sister. While she was there to protect me, I still had haters and backstabbers. Somehow, I channelized my time and energy towards dance. I learned Bharatnatyam and it wasn’t easy. I had to find methods to adapt myself and move rhythmically. The only way I could do it was to observe and feel the vibrations. It was difficult but I managed to have my own Arengetram. It didn’t stop there. I couldn’t restrict myself to it. That was the one and only way to express me. I started dancing freestyle and performed in many reality shows both in North and South India. Celebrities appreciated me and I had shown all over the country and also abroad. Despite all this, I was going through a major phase of depression. I was waiting for my school to get over. That’s when my sister stood shoulder to shoulder with me. She helped me read lyrics, rhythm and choreograph my dance. She was there to listen to my cries and protect me from people who harmed me. Needless to say, she couldn’t be there always. I got two pet dogs who were more like my own therapists during hard times. I had an amazing chemistry teacher who convinced my family to let me pursue dance and commerce instead of science and tech. I found three of my closest friends in the final years of school. It all happened late in my life but I’m just glad it did. The thought that I’ve faced so much and alive today kept my hopes rising to live every day, albeit the fact that I’ve made suicidal attempts with a desire to end all this misery”
Photo courtesy: Humans of Madras
“My parents form a separate chapter in my life. If my sister and I are the two pillars partly keeping our family up, my mom and dad were the other two who completed it. They tackled so well with their own problems and dealing with their children. Even when let down by their own family, siblings, and society, they made the choice to stick with us. We do not know how and when they got through their problems but all we can see is sheer energy in them. We do not worry much about them. Most people like me have parents who are over worried about their kids. But I’d ask them to simply support them. They’re normal as any other kid. So do not judge their abilities without letting them be themselves. This goes well with anyone else too. We see someone and we judge mostly based on their first appearance. It is high time we become considerate. Be it a girl or a boy, there will always be someone better than us in every aspect. How often do we try to improve ourselves everyday first? Before we point fingers, we must know where we stand.”
You are a true superhero, Abhilasha!