A GIRL WHO FOUGHT BACK WITH HER OPTIMISM!!!!

  Fourth day of the week started, but still my story for this week's publish wasn't there. On the top of that, I was travelling to Agra for some family function. I was heading towards Agra, but was still lost in my thoughts, as I was still without a story!! But, I was unaware that this road to Agra was taking me closer and closer to my next story. But, I guess life is like that only, unpredictable and full of surprises waiting for us in each stage of life.

As we reached our destination greetings got exchanged like the usual, typical and full of overdosed love, common in Punjabi families. But, where is the star of the evening my sister-in-law!! Oh there she was, getting all ready for the evening. Then after having some chilled water (much needed after those 35 degrees out there), all the tiredness vanished suddenly. It was around 4'o clock at that time, so we needed to rush a bit. So we also joined the queue, waiting for our turn to come to get ready by the beautician. As I was the youngest one, so was pushed or on waiting, as I can wait to get my things done, but my aunt's can't (must have happened with all those younger ones in the family out there).

After waiting for almost one and a half hour, finally I was there, finally!! Well frankly, after waiting for so long, I was in no mood to get ready or to do anything in fact. Still, after literally dragging myself there, I was on that seat, which has become the hot seat in those hours. So, the young girl there started the process and was cleaning my face before putting those layers to hide my recently got dark circles. And suddenly a voice came in, from inside and I suddenly asked her as what she really does. In her reply, she said that she is in twelfth standard and is left with her last exam, which is day after tomorrow. I was dumbstruck for some good five minutes, I mean she is having her boards; what the hell is she doing here! After that, my mind was full of questions, and was demanding to get it answers. So I couldn't stop myself anymore and started bombarding her with my bunch of questions. And soon, suman started narrating her story from the beginning.

Suman belonged to an average family, where her father was the only one working in the house. He wasn't earning much to provide his three children with all those luxuries. But he knew that where the money needs to get invested, for a better future. And that was, in the education of his children, he never compromised with that, may it be any situation. On the top of that, he never stopped them from engaging in those extra courses, apart from studies. Out of his three children, suman was always interested in getting all dolled up and learning those make up tricks and all. She was fifteen, when she wanted to enroll in a beauty course. Her father supported her and got her into the course. That was a one year diploma course, which she did and even got a certificate from the institution. After that course; she always used to try out those, on her mother and sister.

It was her holiday's going on after her tenth board exams, when her mother suddenly shouted out of her name. She was preparing the dinner, and was unable to pick up the phone with those dirty hands.

Then suman came in and saw her father's name flashing on the screen and immediately picked up the call. The call was kept on speaker, so that her mother can talk with those hands. Then from the other side, an unfamiliar voice asked for Harish’s (suman's dad) wife and when she replied. Then the person on the other end told her that her husband has met with an accident on shamshabad road and has been rushed to a nearby hospital. Her mother panicked and quickly called out for her friend in neighbor and asked her to take care of her children and she rushed to the hospital immediately after that. After reaching the hospital, she came to know that Harish is in the I.C.U, and is critical as told by the doctors. Then after waiting outside the I.C.U. ward, for about half an hour, the doctors came out. Then as soon as she saw them, she rushed towards them to know about the condition of Harish. Then her life suddenly turned upside down, as soon as she came to know that Harish’s left leg has got completely paralyzed. She couldn't stop or control her emotions anymore and just started crying taking out his name. Then the doctors and nurses present there, consoled her and gave her some water and made her sit on the nearby bench. Then after sometime, when Harish gained consciousness then she was allowed to see him. As soon as she saw him, her pain started flowing from her eyes in the form of liquid. Then after talking to him, and seeing him talking and well she felt some better.

One month passed, and the financial conditions of the house were becoming worse with each passing day. The whole family till then knew that they wouldn't be able to survive much like this. That was the time, when suman realized that being the eldest one; she has to step out for work. As both her siblings were too young, so she took the charge in her hands. Then slowly, she started looking out for jobs in salons and even spread a word about the home service. Gradually she got a job in a salon, and a fixed salary every month. The financial condition was now stable with that amount they got every month. But as soon as the holiday's after exams ended, that was the time when there were two paths in front of suman. And she has to choose one, then she was about to tell about the path she choose. But suddenly a knock on the door, became the interval time in the story. It was some uncle asking for his belongings in the room.

As soon as she passed the packet to him, I asked her to tell me about the path she chose and why?

Then after passing a smile, and simultaneously curling my hair, she told me that she choose her family and there well being. She was only 16 at that time and still at that age also, the kind of maturity she showed was unbelievable. What stunned me more was her casual attitude while saying all of that. As she chooses the other path, thus her studies were left behind and she was a tenth passed only. Her work load increased gradually, as she also got some extra work apart from the salon. The family was in a better state now and her siblings were continuing her studies. As they say time flies, and that is what happened and she turned twenty. That was the time, when she decided to resume her studies. As one of the main teachings of father was the importance of education in life. So she decided as everything is going fine now. So this is the best time for her to go back to her studies and complete her senior secondary education. Soon she filled the form for eleventh class, in an open learning format. So that she can continue her work while coping up with her studies. As she couldn't afford tuition, so she decided that she will work in the day time. And will devote her nights to her studies. In the beginning, it was hard to manage both simultaneously, but her optimism and willingness was always much more stronger then the situations were. Then the day came of her exams of eleventh, and as her centre was a bit far. Thus she was travelling through her bicycle and was half way through, when an over speeded car crossed her cycle and made her white dress turn all brown. But as the time was running, so she quickly got up and started cycling again. Soon she reached her destination and quickly entered the exam hall, where all the eyes were upon her, as soon as she entered. Still driving her way through all those stares, she reached her seat. Soon she was engaged in her work, forgetting everything which happened.

Thankfully, after that incident everything went swiftly and her exams ended. Then her results were out after two months holiday and she passed her exams with 70%.Her father was really proud of her daughter and was filled in with joy, after hearing his daughter's achievement.

In present, now she was about to finish the makeup and just said that after that everything was well and even if it wasn't. Then too, till now she was always up for the challenges and never made any situation disturb her, as she had become an optimistic person till then. Those night studies helped her in making up for the time she couldn't study.

It's her optimism and hard work only, that she was there working a day before her board exams and that too without any tension. She still travels, on her bicycle to work and to her examination centre’s.

As I got ready, her story ended, but my experience of writing and living her story ended. She is truly an inspiration to those, who find excuses for not completing their studies. It was a pleasure meeting a person like her and an absolute honor to know her story. She wishes to open her own salon, after completing her studies. I wish all her dreams come true and more and more people get inspired by the story of Suman-Who fought back with her optimism.    

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