"Where there is a will, there is a way" this is probably the most quoted proverb in the world. I am not sure if my academic training really thought me the true meaning of this proverb. However, i am lucky to meet many people from different walks of life who are walking testimony to the truth in the statement.
I was in Mumbai last week for a quick day trip to attend a meeting. I had taken an early morning flight and was returning by the evening flight. It was a tiring day and for my return flight, i had cleared the security an hour and half in advance and was waiting for my flight in the overcrowded terminal.
As i was strolling by, i noticed a pretty ordinary looking Spa by name 'Heaven on earth'. One middle aged man was standing inside it. When i asked him if the spa was open for a foot massage, he just shied away rather pretty rudely. We normally do not expect such behaviour at airport shops. He returned in a couple of minutes with a blind woman. I was astonished to understand that the man who shied away was deaf and dumb and he returned with a blind woman by name Sarala to address my queries.
Meet Mrs Sarala from Aurangabad who works as a therapist at 'Heaven on earth' Spa at terminal 1B of Mumbai Airport. She is born blind who works in the spa for 8 hours a day Monday to Saturday.
Sarala was very courteous and enquired my flight details. At that moment the spa manager arrived with the service card . I asked for a 30 minute foot massage. The manager assigned Sarala as the therapist.
Imagine giving a foot massage without knowing how a foot looks like. (Think of explaining a colour to a blind person) . This is almost un-thinkable for a normal person. Sarala cannot see, rather she has never seen anything in life. Sarala was no doubt extremely good at her job. At the end of 30 minutes, i had met a wonderful person who was an embodiment of grit and determination.
Sarala is from Aurangabad who is born blind. She stays near Bandra with her husband. Sarala has undergone a special training for one year where she has been trained in massage therapy. She knows all the pressure points in the body even by their technical names. Subsequently she has undergone a training for 2 months at the heavens earth spa specialising in foot and back massage.
Her day starts from 6 AM. She has to finish all the daily chores, make breakfast for herself and her husband, pack the afternoon lunch and reach Bandra station by 8:30 AM. She takes a local train to vile parle. She will reach Parle station by 9:30 AM. She then takes a bus to the terminal 1 of Mumbai airport which takes her another 15 minutes. She then has to walk for 5 minutes to get to the gates from where the on duty CRPF person helps her to the spa. She will reach here workplace by 9:55 AM. Her duty starts from 10:00 AM. Her return trip starts at 6:00 PM and she reaches home by 8:00 PM.
At the end of the massage session, i asked her if i could write a post on her with a photograph. She smiled and said, "i do not know how my photograph looks like rather i do not understand the meaning of "look" and i anyway cannot read your blog so it does not matter to me". What could i say? I was speechless.
Though i had developed great respects for her by the end of 30 minutes, i offered her a tip. I handed over a 500 rupee note. She felt the note and told me in Hindi "Dena hai to saab 100 rupaiya do" (Give me only 100 rupees if you really want to give). I was dumbstruck and gave her a 100 rupee note.
She handed me the bill and asked me to revisit the next time i come to Mumbai. I later learnt that there are about 40 such physically handicapped massage therapist spread across all terminals of Mumbai airport each one a personification of will power and self respect.
I boarded the flight with mixed feelings and counting my blessings.
Sarala is from Aurangabad who is born blind. She stays near Bandra with her husband. Sarala has undergone a special training for one year where she has been trained in massage therapy. She knows all the pressure points in the body even by their technical names. Subsequently she has undergone a training for 2 months at the heavens earth spa specialising in foot and back massage.
Her day starts from 6 AM. She has to finish all the daily chores, make breakfast for herself and her husband, pack the afternoon lunch and reach Bandra station by 8:30 AM. She takes a local train to vile parle. She will reach Parle station by 9:30 AM. She then takes a bus to the terminal 1 of Mumbai airport which takes her another 15 minutes. She then has to walk for 5 minutes to get to the gates from where the on duty CRPF person helps her to the spa. She will reach here workplace by 9:55 AM. Her duty starts from 10:00 AM. Her return trip starts at 6:00 PM and she reaches home by 8:00 PM.
At the end of the massage session, i asked her if i could write a post on her with a photograph. She smiled and said, "i do not know how my photograph looks like rather i do not understand the meaning of "look" and i anyway cannot read your blog so it does not matter to me". What could i say? I was speechless.
Though i had developed great respects for her by the end of 30 minutes, i offered her a tip. I handed over a 500 rupee note. She felt the note and told me in Hindi "Dena hai to saab 100 rupaiya do" (Give me only 100 rupees if you really want to give). I was dumbstruck and gave her a 100 rupee note.
She handed me the bill and asked me to revisit the next time i come to Mumbai. I later learnt that there are about 40 such physically handicapped massage therapist spread across all terminals of Mumbai airport each one a personification of will power and self respect.
I boarded the flight with mixed feelings and counting my blessings.
Each life is distinct & has a story of it's own.
ReplyDeleteGod has blessed each one with abilities. One need to be purposeful to track his path to destiny.