It is the story of a woman, who beat extraordinary odds through sheer belief and patience. It is the story of a man, who then fell in love with her for what she is.
And it is the story of their love, which left deep impressions on me.
The story begins in IIM A.
Nishtha is her name. She was born in Gujarat. As she grew up, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic muscular disorder. The disorder completely immobilized her.
Education was affected. And as if fate couldn’t be more cruel, she lost her father when she was in class 10.
Friends, Imagine losing your ability to walk. Imagine your education being threatened because of it. And then you lose your father unexpectedly. And you live in India’s 1990s. How can people ever recover from those circumstances? What can even drive people from there? What words and hopes of future can comfort you? I do not know.
Life often pushes us into a darkness, where there is no light of hope. Fate breaks our everyday spirit and reason for life. Time too takes away ruthlessly every little bit of hope, peace and happiness we desperately hold on to – through family, friendships and money. And then, as we are stripped bare naked to depend on our core nature and willingness to move on with life – some people give up all desire for life and happiness. Some others though rise and fight. They fight, not because they believe they will triumph. But because that is the right and the only thing to do.
So, Nishtha began to fight her illness. After all the unlikely cures were tested and failed, she chose to take Ayurvedic treatment for her condition. Nothing happened for two years. She showed no signs of improvement in her health. Everyday life was a challenge. Education was hurt. But she continued the ritual of treatment and kept up the warrior discipline of fighting.
Two years of unrelenting fight, discipline and medicinal treatment later – Nishtha showed the first signs of improvement. She was able to move her body a little and can now work her way onto a wheelchair. Although both her legs were paralyzed, she still believed that there was a purpose to her life.
She began studying again. And beating impossible odds, she graduated from Gujarat university. Not stopping there, she pursued employment. A life that was totally derailed by fate, she began putting it all back. Beginning with freelance work through references, she eventually made her way into working for the India’s premier business school IIM A. And not stopping there, she was instrumental in coordinating IIM A’s equal employment opportunity office events.
From someone who was bed ridden 15 years ago, to becoming someone who shaped the careers of people who come into IIM A – Nishtha’s was a dream journey.
So, it was no wonder then – that when the energetic and passionate architect Krishna met her – he fell in love with her. Their love story was the stuff of dreams. And to be able to hear their story, on a rainy evening in IIM A campus – will remain one of life’s best moments.
Krishna fell for Nishtha and proposed her. She accepted. And today, they are happily married. They also have a 1.5 year old daughter – Aakanksha.
‘So, why did you fall in love with her?’, I asked.
‘I don’t know. I will never know. There was something about her’, he said.
And as he uttered those words – I learnt something. I learnt that extraordinary odds can be beaten by ordinary people. All you need is the will to keep fighting. And
the will to keep fighting comes from a thought. A thought that your life is worth it.
Most amazing moment:
Listening to Nishtha’s journey from someone whose education was threatened to someone who shaped student lives and career at IIM A.
Lesson learnt:
Inspiration is not a feeling. It is a choice you make to fight life against all odds.
