We believe in God - Sajeev srishtee - all the colours, all the flowers, everything on this Earth, God is behind it all. He is present in everything. Belief in God and a strong Will go a long way. Apart from your own actions, fortune also plays a role. Some trees bear fruit earlier, some later. There are seasons and it is the same in life – you have spring and winter – you have happiness and sadness. It is only when you have sadness that you can value your happiness. There’s a saying in Marathi: “Sukh maanyaavar asta.”. So even if you live in a hut, you could be happier than a person in a palace.

His father and I have both managed by ourselves all these years. We never wanted anyone’s charity. For the last 10 years, he’s been working nights as a security guard while I’ve been continuing my work as a teacher in a BMC school.

Even today, when I’m sad, it is not because I have a child who cannot walk. I’m sad only because I feel he can’t do all the things he loves like horse-riding or swimming.

Or that he loves music and can’t play the tabla. Because he wants to sculpt statues of Ganapati and he can’t. At times I can’t bear to see his pain. But his courage gives me hope, as I am sure it does a lot of people.