Face it, take it easy, there is always a way out!
“Mamma, is my sister special needs? What is the cure?”
I had this fear at the back of my mind, what will be my answer when my son asks this question one day? I remember how I felt while answering him, but I do not remember what I said to assure him. I somehow felt confident that with time he will gather knowledge and wisdom….he will grow up to be a sensible brother. He began noticing his sister closely, trying to understand the areas which made her different or less than rest of us. He had quite a few questions which I knew would be taken care of, with time.
A happy child generally, at eight years of age he seemed to understand and think with maturity. I started expecting him to not be disappointed while I gave more time to my daughter. I knew that this was incorrect so tried my level best to strike a balance between both, setting priorities.
We started preparing for 2 subjects, English and Mass Communication to be held in April 2014 as the first part of Higher Secondary Examination. We were now confident of English grammar and comprehension after intense practice. The examination centre allotted this year was in a government school in Pataudi village, which took us around 2 hours to reach. Hence, I ran to the Noida office with a request to reconsider and change the examination centre to a nearer location. On the day of the examination, we got stuck at the railway crossing due to some unforeseen obstacle. We all walked for almost a kilometer in the immense heat to reach the examination centre. We HAD to kept CALM.
The benches were narrow and cracked, the fans moved at a low speed, it was suffocating…how would she manage with all her sensory issues? I tried my best and succeeded in staying relaxed until her paper was complete.
This time, my daughter was accompanied by an intelligent and sensitive girl as the reader, who assured me that everything would be fine!
She cleared both the papers and scored decent marks.
In May 2013 we had taken the challenge of travelling with a group of 30 people to see Europe. I was warned about the various challenges we were likely to face long, connecting flights at night, several breaks in the journey to different cities, early dinners, crowded places and so on. We made a note of all this and planned elaborately with minute details, preparing my daughter for possible changes as well. We ‘Senguptas’ turned out be one of the families always on time. Others in the group sensed that my daughter was different an they became sensitive and cooperative.
In May 2014, four of us went on holiday to Srinagar. I noticed that my daughter’s ability to explore, adjust and to connect with the environment had remarkably improved. We chose to visit tourist spots which would not be too challenging and those which could not be missed as well. At the entrance of Mughal Gardens, we mother and daughter waited as the father and son had went to buy tickets. A young girl shouted at a group of children and pointed at my daughter….they all laughed and laughed! I too looked at my daughter…. she was smiling with no clue, why everyone was laughing at her! I walked up to the young girl and told her “Beta kisi ke upar hanste nahi…” As I remember this incident, I get a lump in my throat.
My daughter has been laughed at, innumerable times in different situations….but this incident still hurts. I realised then, maybe she is blessed with Autism and hence, she was saved from the pain I felt by people’s ignorance!
Zindagi, kaisi yeh paheli hai re….kabhi yeh hasaye…kabhi yeh rulaye!!!
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