They survived acid attacks to triumph in life
shows and cultural events from places across the country. As and when we get the opportunity, we try to send along a fresh batch of women,” says Shukla.
Anshu, who had never travelled by air in her life, recently flew to Odisha with ten others like her on an invitation from chief minister Naveen Patnaik. “We made so much noise when the flight took off! They had told us in our childhood that we would die if we looked out of the window, so we did not even dare to do that,” she gushes.
Disconcerting as the curious glances from their co-passengers may have been, the warm welcome they received at the airport (complete with bouquets and hugs) more than made up .
“Hum Anshu ko netaji kehke pukaarte hain kyunki woh apne tashan mein rehti hain (We call Anshu our leader because she carries herself with style),” says one of her companions. That’s clear from the way the teenager is confidently moving around Lucknow’s Sheroes Hangout, the second cafe in the state run by acid attack survivors.
So, is romance in the air for Anshu? It can wait, she says, because her priority lies in helping poor children.
Others, however, are not as willing to keep Cupid at bay. Two acid attack survi-
vors, Peehu and Kavita, recently married their sweethearts and have been living happily ever since.
Rani’s story is arguably the most romantic of all. She found her lifemate at the Sankara Nethralaya, where she underwent three eye operations. “We are in love,” says the 25-year-old, who resides at the Sheroes Home in Noida. “Wedding bells will ring once my surgeries are done.”
When asked if her love story is as heartwarming as Laxmi’s, Rani laughs. “It’s more so! Saroj, who is a medical representative, loves me just the way I am. He visits me all the time.”
Rani, who was bedridden for four years after the acid attack, remained in pain for nearly a decade that followed. She has already undergone five reconstructive surgeries, and awaits more. Some love was long overdue in her life. Not everybody is as lucky, though. “There are many like us who still remain hidden within the four walls of their homes,” says Laxmi. “Sheroes has become the address for acid attack victims to reach out for legal and emotional support, but many are yet to contact us. Meanwhile, acid attacks — along with the unfettered sale of acid — continue unabated.”