While life is unfair to many of us, there are a few who never let the challenges bog them down. While life hits them hard, these few courageous souls always fight back.
One such person is this brave woman, who refused to give up on life even after losing her mother, father, and brother. It is inspiring how she found the purpose of her life in giving a better future to her brother’s kids.
While sharing her heart-wrenching story with HOB of how life took away everything from her, she mentioned:
“At mom’s funeral, I sat next to dad and held his hand tightly. I was scared that if I let it go, I’d lose him too– I was just 14 then. A month later, we found out that he had blood cancer. It was the initial stage so it was treatable. I wanted to stay home, but papa sent me to boarding school while my older brother looked after him.
At school, I’d get anxiety attacks and break down– I was either missing mom or worrying about dad. It got so bad that dad called me home for 6 months and I left only after being convinced he was okay.
I graduated from college and then moved to Mumbai for work. By then, dad’s cancer reached the 3rd stage. Everyday, I’d try to get him to Mumbai for his treatment. I even spoke to doctors at Tata hospital; and he kept saying, ‘Soon’, but that soon never came.
2 days after we spoke, my cousins called and I knew. That day on call, he made me promise– ‘No matter what happens, you’re not coming back.’ When I got home, I was shattered. Dad’s words echoed in my head. The day his last rites were over, I forced myself to go back to work.
But after, my condition worsened. I became so weak that I was hospitalized at least once a month. So Bhai called me to Punjab, to live closer to home and I began working at a hospital.
Everything was going smoothly for 3 years, until Bhai and my niece met with an accident. My niece was unscathed, but Bhai had internal injuries and went into a coma. For 10 days, we prayed for a miracle, but the doctors said, ‘There are 0 chances of survival. You need to make a call.’
Hearing that, I went numb and truthfully, I don’t even remember how I decided. All I remember is going to his room, praying for him, coming out and signing the papers to get him off the ventilator.
It was the hardest decision of my life. By the time I reached home, everyone knew. The kids ran towards me and gave me a tight hug. My nephew said, ‘Koi na. Bua, now you’re our papa!’ and in that moment, I knew I had to live for them.
Over the next few years, I figured out Bhai’s finances and filed an accident case against the other party. For 3 years I went to courts with evidence, but they’d deny it ever happened– I’m fighting the case till today.
Meanwhile, I’m trying to be there for the kids; I don’t want them to go through what I did.Every night, we sit and talk after dinner. It’s random stuff, but since lockdown has begun and we’re home, the kids fight a lot. The other day, my niece asked me during one of their fights, ‘How were you and papa when you were younger?’ And I smiled and told her, ‘Just like you!'”
At IFORHER, we are in awe of her courage and strength to not let life break her spirit. However, the strength doesn’t mean the pain gets any lesser. It never will. But with her strength, she has emerged stronger for herself and the kids.