Hopeless To Hopeful, My Roller Coaster Life! (5)

Hopeless To Hopeful, My Roller Coaster Life! (5)

Hello Readers once again! Thanks a ton for all your comments and messages! So here I go again, with a little bit more of my, hopefully, interesting life and experiences!
Did you know, that I got thrown out from Loreto Convent School Delhi, when I was just about 13, and had finished class 8! Till this time, I was, as I have mentioned, in inclusive education in various schools, and suddenly, after having me there for the last three years, this school decided to throw me out! They simply told my parents that as I was blind, they must put me into a ‘Blind School’! No amount of convincing could change their harsh decision, and I still remember, sitting very sadly in a familiar cane chair in the lobby of my lovely school, waiting for my transfer certificate! I wasn’t feeling anything except confusion and disbelief! Was I never going to come to my school here anymore? But, why? I never failed, I always completed all my school work, just like all my classmates! I was very well-behaved, I participated in all activities to the best of my abilities, then, where was the problem? And, there were a number of girls in my class who failed often and were mischievous and not well behaved at all. And, yet, it was I who was getting chucked out of school!
Following which my parents took me to countless schools and no one was now ready to take in a blind child! I was ultimately taken to a school for blind girls, so I could continue my education there! My falling spirits lifted, but, we were informed that only boarders will get addition, and no amount of convincing by my parents could change their minds! According to my parents, this school was not fit for me to live in; and so that ended the most unsuccessful road to me ever getting a proper education in a school like other children!
Deeply discouraged by the attitude of the education system, no amount of persuading, could my parents get me to get my formal education through the then known correspondence system; and I was left to only manage a class 10th certificate from the National Open School when I was expecting my first child, at the age of 22!
At that time, my parents had hardly any awareness regarding education for blind girls, so, I was left isolated at home all by myself! While all my friends and also my little brother went to school, I felt completely lost and disheartened; for, ever so often people asked me why I had left school? I seemed to have no answers, and I would spend most of my days silently suffering and most of my nights weeping soundlessly into my pillow; for I did not want to bring more misery to my lovely parents! I had given them enough trouble and pain; and, to be found crying and sad all the time, I knew, would bring them only more of the same! However, I do remember, on some nights, my little brother would suddenly wake up in the middle of the night and hear me crying, he would jump out of bed and get my parents to come and stop me from doing so! This made me feel worse, and so I began to practice how to swallow my sobs and pain and lie soundlessly thinking of what would ultimately become of me!
My parents must have certainly known my bad and worsening situation, and they began to take concrete steps to make positive changes in my life to the best of their ability!
So, this was the time, my mother stepped up her efforts to train me in all household tasks, including, cooking, cleaning, knitting, home management and my personality enhancement, and to master my typing skills as well! I remember her constantly reminding me that I need to be superb in every skill that was possible to learn under the sun, so I could blossom into the most accomplished, sophisticated and sought-after woman around!
Besides the above, I was put to learning sitar; and, my mother at that time, consciously implanted the dream in my heart, that if I worked hard enough, I could, one day, probably be as famous as Pandit Ravi Shankar Ji!
Suddenly, out of nowhere, once again, a ray of hope, appeared into a 13 year old me! The realization, that I still had this one chance to earn my completely lost dignity and value back; managed to motivate and awaken my nearly dead and totally miserable spirit all over again! So, I instantly dived, once again, into my music training, with complete dedication and belief, of finally be able to work towards fulfilling my dream of becoming a respectable, sought-after and celebrated Citizen!
Just wanted to share with you dear Readers, that even after, having to repeatedly go through such torturous and devastating trauma, I somehow, managed to not only find a positive hope in that pitch dark moment of my life, but, also, got myself to cling to it with my whole little being!
Well, so long for now! Will be back with what happened after the above, in my next post!
Looking forward to your queries and comments! Hope I get many to motivate me further!
Preeti signing off for now!
Preeti.monga@gmail.com
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