Acid attack

Pramodini will also join a group dance by acid attack survivor friends on ‘Main Ghani Bawri’ and ‘Manohari’ mash-up. Lucknow-based choreographer Kristina is helping them to get the perfect moves.

Proudly showing her ‘Barbie Doll’ gown on her cellphone screen, Pramodini said: “I don’t have hair on my scalp and my ear has also melted, but see me tomorrow. I will wear a beautiful wig that I bought in Rs 15,000. The shopkeeper was asking Rs 20,000 but especially for me he gave a big discount. For the ring ceremony, I will wear a red-orange and lightyellow colour ‘lehnga’. I have never worn such good dresses before.”

Saroj said they bought everything from Delhi. “Pramodini works as helpdesk representa- tive at Sheroes Home in Noida. She joined it in 2015 and has been in Delhi, Agra and Lucknow. We chose this city as she has worked here and the city has a lot of survivors too,” he said.

He said he left his job as medical representative and joined her cause — helping acid attack survivors. Their love bloomed during the painful phase Pramodini was going through. “After the attack, I was in ICU for nine months. I went into coma for a day and when I woke up, my vision and power to move was gone. Five years, I was static at home in the care of my mother and two sisters.”

Rani met Saroj on April 8, 2014 when she was admitted to a hospital in Cuttack. “After three months of treatment, Babu (she fondly calls Saroj) came with a nurse after she mentioned to him about my fight. I was down with depression with no movement. It was then that Saroj vowed to help me stand on my feet,” she says. Saroj took a four-month break from his company to help her out. “I built confidence in her, which brought back her smile. Then with the help of a physiotherapist and doctors she slowly stood on her feet. In four months she started moving,” he said. Saroj realized her importance in life when she came to join Chhanv Foundation, which runs Sheroes Cafes. “I was in Agra when he called me up and proposed, saying ‘tumhara man bahut accha hai’. I too have feelings for him but without vision I did not want to take it forward,” Pramodini said.

Thereafter, she got her eyes operated in Chennai. “I was airborne when I saw first an object in the form of a shadow. I wanted to see my mom, Alok bhaiya (Chhanv founder) and him (Saroj) and with God’s grace ‘Babu’ was beside me.” After engagement, the marriage won’t be soon. “First I want my elder and younger sisters to settle down in life. We have to establish a business platform in Orrisa so that we can support other survivors and help our foundation. There is lot to do,” says Rani.

But right now, she is enjoying every moment. She gave a broad smile before heading for a pre-engagement photo-shoot with ‘Her Man’.