ALSphere Foundation
Suman fell at her husband Shishir’s feet, pleading with him to accept their differently-abled child. Her desperate cries, however, went unheard. Shishir coldly shoved her and their wailing toddler out of the house. The Neighbours tried to make peace, but Shishir’s harsh words forced them to step away.
Suman’s mother-in-law was a kind-hearted soul and loved Suman deeply. She tried to intervene, but Shishir remained unmoved and grabbed his mother by the shoulder, dragged her inside and slammed the door.
“Shishir, where will Suman and her son go at this hour?” his mother asked, her voice trembling.
“I don’t care! She’s given birth to a special child, and that’s unacceptable to me.” Shirish yelled angrily.
“It is God’s will. Sometimes what seems like a burden is actually a blessing in disguise.” Shishir’s mother tried to convince but in vain.
Tears stained her face. Wiping them with her saree pallu, shishir’s mother sat on the ground with folded hands and prayed for Suman and her son’s safety.
Suman’s brother, who lived nearby, turned his back on her, refusing to take any responsibility. With no one to turn to, she roamed from one village to another with her toddler, like a nomad, clinging to the hope that someone would come to their aid. But only disappointment came, settling over her like a heavy fog.
When the flicker of hope started to fade, and she was on the verge of taking her life, a woman approached her, offering her help and shelter.
“Beta, life is precious, gifted by God. No one has the right to end it. Even the darkest night eventually gives way to dawn. Don’t worry.
The elderly woman continued, her voice gentle yet firm. “I live nearby, all alone. I had to throw my son and his wife out because of their misbehaviour. I’ll provide you and your little one food and shelter, and in return, you help me with household chores.”
She paused, looked Suman in the eyes, and muttered, “Always remember, nothing is more important than self-respect. If you respect yourself, others will respect you too.”
“Is it my fault that my son was born differently? My husband wanted me to abandon him, but I couldn’t do it, and now, here I am, wandering like a nomad.” Suman’s voice choked, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
“No, it’s not your fault. Life gives us challenges we don’t understand. I had to make the painful choice to part ways with my son to protect my self-respect. Without it, we lose everything.” The elderly woman said.
From being a nomad to settling down in a stranger’s house, Suman’s journey began to take shape. The older woman introduced Suman to the villagers as her daughter. After a couple of months, Suman’s mother-in-law found Suman and decided to stay with her. The three women, bound by shared experiences and resilience, lived together, raising the toddler who grew up to become a renowned singer, making them all proud.
