I am Different, not Less

I am Different, not Less

“Life is all about balance. Since I have only one leg, I understand that well.”― Sandy Fussell

The article named ‘Pandemic takes a unique toll of South African Disabled’ spoke of the stress the disabled had to face due to their disability during the pandemic. The president addressed the nation’s fears, but none had spoken for the disabled like the deaf and the blind who could not hear or see the president. The pandemic restrictions, the use of masks, the lockdown measures and social distancing had blocked their sense of smell and help of people.

The disabled in any country undergo social exclusion. Life is difficult than the disability due to ostracism. Human beings are either unkind due to their experiences or learnt emotion.

The article reminded me of Saira and her doll.

Saira was born a few years ago after the summer solstice. The earth was hot and fiery, but Saira’s whines matched the rage. She could gulp lungfuls of air and cry relentlessly. It was incredible, but her parents and grandparents did their best to rock her to sleep. When Saira’s parents and grandparents found it very difficult to manage, a nanny named Tannikka was appointed by the family to take care of her. 

Tannikka was an experienced lady who had three grown-up kids of her own. She loved Saira and was patient with her. The bond formed was unique, and over the months, Saira stopped crying. She was fed, cleaned, bathed, dressed by Tannikka. She would rock her to sleep in the afternoons and play with her in the mornings. Tanikka became a valuable part of the family who would take her wherever they went. On Saira’s first birthday, Tanikka bought a tall doll with golden-brown hair and black eyes. The maid Ayesha gave her a blue coloured Doremon. Saira loved the bright blue Doremon initially. Over time, it was the tall doll that she liked the most. As a toddler, she would drop the doll lengthwise on the floor and pull the buttons on the doll’s dress or her bright black eyes. The family felt it was too early for Saira to play with the doll. When she grew a little older, she began playing with the doll. She had many dolls, but this doll was her favourite. They named the doll Aliya as it was pretty like actress Aliya.

Saira would kiss the doll and try to rock her on her stretched feet just like Tanikka. As days went by, Tanikka would join the game and dress Aliya in Saira’s frocks. It was not all roses as Saira would sometimes fling the doll carelessly. One such day, Aliya’s leg got dislocated from the socket in the hip. Saira knew that it was not right. She tried to fix the femur of the leg in the socket. When it was impossible, she began carrying Aliya in her right hand and the dislocated leg in her left hand. She would always place the leg near Aliya wherever she made her sit.

With the onset of the pandemic, Tanikka left the job after a couple of months. Saira kept whining for Tanikka as she missed her a lot. She began adoring Aliya all the more. Her best friends were her grandma and grandpa now. She would ask grandma to call Tanikka, but these remained momentary as the pandemic seemed to be a never-ending one.

Saira was growing with time and was naughtier now. One day when Saira was unruly grandma was angry, but she did not listen to grandma. In a fit of rage, grandma threw Aliya into the attic. Saira was frightened but ran and brought the dislocated leg and asked grandma to throw the dislocated leg towards Aliya in the attic. Grandma was amazed to see the child’s love. She hugged Saira but picked the doll from the attic only after a couple of days.

Grandma took Saira and Aliya the doll to the park for a change after the lockdown restrictions were relaxed. Saira loved the greenery and the glistening sun. She chose a spot near the pond where the geese honked and the grasshoppers chirped. She enjoyed running on the green grass and followed the children who were in a playful mood. When Grandma saw the evening hues, she realised that it was getting late, and she hastily dragged Saira home.

After a couple of hours, when they were about to dine, Saira realised that she had left Aliya near the lake. She was restless and could not sleep well that night. Grandma realised the deep attachment the little child had for the doll.

At dawn, Saira and Grandma went to the park. They rushed to the outskirts of the pond where they had left Aliya. It had rained the previous night, and Aliya was mucky and filthy, but Saira picked the doll lovingly and hugged her mightily. Grandma kept looking at Saira and Aliya for a long time and later brought them home. They bathed Aliya and dressed her in colourful clothes.

Saira loved the doll despite the disability because she did not encounter the disability with negative emotions. Perhaps, love and affection for the disabled are missing in adults since we have grown with the attitude of looking out only for the good things in life. It is said that when life gives a disability, it sharpens the other senses. The disabled thus have their perceptions well awakened. It reminds us of Tom Dempsey, an American athlete with half a foot and a deformed hand. He could do things just like normal children until he fostered a desire to play football. He had special shoes designed for himself that could help him kick the football. He was able to kick the ball 55 yards to reach the goal line crossing the bar by inches in the presence of 66000 spectators. He grew famous with the winning feat. In 1971, a tragic car accident paralysed Tom Dempsey. It left his chest and hands paralysed and almost nonfunctional. He was confined to the bed for years but found great courage and determination within himself that led to his victory from a state of despair. Tom Dempsey gives all the credit to his parents. They told him about what he could do rather than what he could not. In all likelihood, it is easy to overcome difficult situations in life with belief, faith and resolution that focuses on positives in life.

“Faith is the deepest and truest form of magic.”― Seth Adam Smith