BORN INTO A STRONG FOUNDATION
I arrived in this world as a normal baby, fair and cute. My mother was a woman of exceptional mental and physical strength, a quality that I've always admired and tried to emulate. My dad, on the other hand, was very strict and disciplined, instilling in me the values of hard work and perseverance.
"Growing up, I was fortunate to inherit the best of my parents – their sharp intellect, ambitions, honesty, and a fierce determination to create the most enriching upbringing possible."
My childhood was deeply intertwined with my mother. I was her constant companion on grocery trips, always ready to help carry her bags, her social visits and innumerable wedding invitations. These small acts of consideration were often rewarded with a treat like a bag of chips or a samosa.(Indian snack).Beyond these everyday moments, her frequent visit to temple instilled a profound sense of spirituality within me from a very young age. In those early years, my world revolved around my mother.
UPBRINGING IN A JOYOUS ENVIRONMENT
My parents raised me in a typical Indian/Gujarati household, filled with love, laughter, and strong family bonds. Being the fourth sibling, I had the unique opportunity to observe and learn from my elder siblings' experiences, both their triumphs and their mistakes.
We were a close-knit family, and I have fond memories of our wonderful time spent together during Indian festivities. I was generally an easygoing and happy child, finding joy in simple things and cherishing the love that surrounded me.
My childhood days were a flurry of activity. We played everything from the thrill of hide-and-seek to card games and the friendly competition of board games. I was always in the thick of it, and it seemed everyone genuinely liked me.
My enthusiasm and the way I engaged in games must have made me a fun person to be around. Looking back, I realize I often took the initiative, whether it was suggesting a new game or explaining the rules. Those were some wonderful years filled with joy and laughter, and I felt a strong sense of belonging within our little neighborhood community.
These early experiences of leading and connecting with others were definitely formative.
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SCHOOLING AND ONSET OF SUFFERING
From a young age, I made friends easily and was an average student. I had a passion for dance, singing, and listening to music. I remember owning a small radio and eagerly tuning in to movie reviews before releases, the melodies and songs bringing a unique happiness to my life.
However, my childhood took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease known as Psoriasis. This disease invaded my life and changed it drastically. My skin was covered with red patches all over my body, from my scalp to my feet, and every other area.
Top dermatologists at the time stated that this disease could only be controlled by medication but never truly cured.
The plaque would recur seasonally and with stress, a lifelong suffering with no complete cure. There would be periods of flare up and remission.
My parents had to provide multiple assurances and certifications from doctors, explaining to the school that this disease was not contagious. I truly felt sorry for my mom, for the stigma and hardships she had to go through because of my ailment.
My days at school were filled with despair, as I tried my best to make friends and not be alienated. During class, I was often made to sit away from everyone, a constant reminder of my condition. I disliked being pitied. I yearned to be a part of the class, to feel normal and accepted.
But who can change my destiny? All this was meant for me to go through. It was a lesson I had to learn and surpass the test the fate was throwing at me at such a tender age. I almost stopped going out to play. Once I returned from school my days would be spent with massive application of ointments or visits to skin specialists. My parents never complained about the additional care and the financial burden I was causing them.
Every visit to a skin specialists would take hours, at times even a whole day but my mother never uttered a word. However tired and exhausted she would be, she kept a track of my medications and ointments plus her daily chores, take care of other siblings and my father as well. Her ability to perform with so much vigor and positiveness was definitely commendable.
And trust me, this was only the beginning of my trials.
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