“EVEN THE MOON HAS SCARS”
Raashi Rohatgi Khan, 43, Brand consultant
“I WANT THE SCAR TO REMIND ME DAILY OF HOW LUCKY I AM; NOT EVERYONE GETS A SECOND CHANCE”
“In 2012, I had a near fatal road accident that led to three fractures – hairline fractures in the pelvis and ribs and a major injury in the right arm,” says Raashi, displaying a huge surgical scar on the upper side of her right arm.
Though her doctor recommended plastic surgery to remove the scar, Raashi wanted to keep it to remind herself of the good fortune of her survival. “God has given me another chance to live and enjoy life and I want this scar to remind me daily of how lucky I am. Not everyone gets a second chance,” says Raashi.
But even though it was her decision to keep the scar, she couldn’t help feeling selfconscious about her physical appearance. “I felt that everyone was staring at me and although my profession needs me to be socially active, I tried to avoid going out as far as possible. I became very sensitive about the way I dressed, totally avoiding short sleeves or any design that would make my upper arm visible. Even today, if I wear a short-sleeved top or a dress, I carry a small shrug or scarf to drape around my arms,” she says. If it weren’t for the support and encouragement of her husband and her father, Rashi acknowledges that she may not have overcome her insecurities. “I have embraced this scar and wear it like a badge of honour now. And that’s the message I want to pass on to all women – be confident and always keep shining. Real beauty is more than skin-deep. Even the most beautiful things, such as the moon, have scars. But the moon always shines irrespectively. So never feel insecure about a mark, scar or spot. You are beautiful just the way you are and you don’t have to change a thing.” –VS