The Labelled One
Being a special child I was always labelled and estimated about my capabilities irrespective of the fact that I have so much more potential within. The people who don't have any idea or even a glimpse about me and my life were judging me openly thus I named myself as the labelled one.
On Saturday evening at 6:00 PM sharp at Dr. Neeazul Haqs clinic in White House Complex. It was a beautiful and pleasant evening in April. Little Sugandha was playing in the waiting area of the hospital because the waiting area of the hospital was no strange for 6 year old Sugandha. She couldn't figure out the difference between her home and hospital because she spent most of her childhood in hospital only.
Hospital Staff: Sugandha Sinha father's name Mr. Rajesh Sinha.
Rajesh Sinha: Yes, yes! we are here, come beta it's our turn, let's meet doctor uncle. ( Little Sugandha held her father's hand and started walking towards the doctor's cabin.)
(Sound of opening doctors cabin door)
Now Sugandha's struggle starts with the high beam machines about which each and every doctor says that these machines will help her but little Sugandha knows that it's only going to hurt her eyes later on.
Doctor Neeazul Haq: Sir your daughter's eye can't be cured. Please don't waste your money and my time on this.
Rajesh Sinha: Sir I have heard your name from plenty of people. They say you do wonders and after-all magic happens in this world only. Sir please see if you can do something to help her out with some medicine or surgery.
Doctor Neeazul Haq: No one can help her, it doesn't matter how much money you are ready to spend. If you want to take her to America or Britain but mark my words nothing will happen and I don't think that she'll be able to learn and live a normal life.
Rajesh Sinha: (took a deep breath) come beta! let's go. (Rajesh and Sugandha walking towards the door)
It was another add on in the list of heart breaking negative responses of the doctors.
But by this time 6 year old Sugandha learnt how to hide her pain and tears from everyone and she didn't want to visit the doctors anymore.
Time flew and Sugandha started going to school. Somehow she completed her primary level education in a local small scale school but for secondary level she needed to get admission in a good high school and here comes the struggle for the education of a disabled child. Society reflects itself in the light of hypocrisy.
Sugandha cleared the entrance exam of Dayanand Saraswati Public School, one of the most reputed schools of Patliputra city but school's door was still closed for Sugandha.
Principal: I'm sorry Mr. Sinha but I don't think that Sugandha will fit into our school. I mean look at her, she has 75% low vision and with only 25% of vision I don't think she'll be able to manage in normal school. Rather I have a suggestion for you, why don't you put her in a special children's school. Anyway it makes no difference because she is not going to do anything with her life. She is able to see things now but she may turn blind tomorrow who knows. I'm telling you this as a friend and that's what doctors said about her right, then why do you want to spend too much on her education, what's the point.
Rajesh Sinha: Don't call me your friend (Rajesh stood up and left)
That was the day Mr Rajesh realised that things and people are not that much transparent as they claim to be and it was the time he called up his real friend who was the trustee of Dayanand Saraswati Public School and finally Sugandha got the admission but problems don't end here.
People send their children to school in order to make them the best of the human kind but what if the mentors themselves are not kind enough to teach kindness to children. Something very similar happened with Sugandha in the school.
Teacher: I just don't understand why people like you come to school. What can I do if you can't see the blackboard and if you have so much problem than how do you walk on the road?
Sugandha: I'm sorry sir, one day I'll do better than this (heavy tone with full of tears in her eyes)
Hello there, this is Sugandha Sinha writing her own story. Today I hold two degrees and I'm a professor in a college and I'm on the verge of completing my PhD as well. I wouldn't say that each and everybody I met was heartless and mean to me, rather there's a list of people who are my backbone. But I must say that few incidents like these make our life more difficult than a disability can make and we are differently abled not disabled.
