I'm here to break the Stereotype!!

I dropped my lunch box and sat on the ground with my eyes fixed on my torned shoes.

It's been a year and I was still wearing the patched shoe, and my friend teased me and called me a cobbler.My shoe was stitched and patched from all possible sides , that it looked more like a rugged garbage piece. Today, they pushed me from the stairs and I fell on my knees and tumbled down and caught the staircase railing to stop myself from falling further. My lunch box was scattered on the steps, and the stale chapati and the pickle was like a dirt spot on the shiny wooden staircase of my school building. I knew I never belonged here. These rich brat who called themselves a student were no less than a monster. Every time they saw me, they would come up with new ideas to make me feel miserable. It's just been a year, and I already hate my school, I wish my father had never pushed me to go to this school.

Would you please stitch my shoe as well??... hahahahha..... poor Avantika!!!.... Look at her shoes.... hahahaha... She looks like a piece of shit!!!... Look at her hair, is that a lice ???... eww!!!!

She can't even afford to get a new pair of shoes.. What does she thinks of herself.. why can't she go to those government schools where she actually belongs. Seriously dude!! looking at her everyday seems like a torture.. No guys!!!... we have a clown in our school, what's more entertaining than that haah???.... hahahaha....

My dad came rushing to the school gate, where I was sitting on the ground, with my head dropped with shame, I was holding my broken lunchbox in one hand and was fighting my tears with the other. Seeing me like this, broke him and he picked me and pulled his rickshaw at the gate and drove me home. Maa, was devastated when she saw my wounded knee and the broken lunch box. She washed my faced and attended my wound. She fed be boiled rice with some leftover milk. She arranged my bed and covered me with blanket and patted me until I my senses were calmed and relaxed. I looked at her with eyes still wet with tears and a sunken face. She kissed me with love and said-- Why didn't you raise a complaint against those who pushed you???..

I had no answer, I was numb,cause I know I was weak, If had complaint against them, they would have made my life more miserable.She sensed the fear , and asked no further questions.

Avanti do you your Father is a wealthiest and strongest man I have ever met. How so Maa??.. We are so poor.. We can't even afford a new pair of shoes...We are dependent on my scholarship..I wonder it would have been in my best interest if I had stayed in the government school.. :( :(

My Mother smiled at me and kissed my forehead again.. You know why your Father is the wealthiest and strongest man ???... I shifted my head guestering No as an answer..

The day I married him, he promised me that he would protect me and be there for me in all the odds.

He lives up to that promise every single day. The day you were born was the happiest day of our Life Avanti. You looked like an Angel, you made us believe in miracle. Your smile was like a ray of hope in our life. As you grew up, our hope grew along with you. You turned out to be the brightest child in the entire Slum. You gave a hope to the entire people in our slum. You are not only the smartest, but you are also the kindest. You have taught many slum children without charging them any fee, you have shared your knowledge with them without being selfish. That shows how rich you are as a person. You know our wealth is not measured in terms of the money that we have stored in our bank accounts, or the luxurious life that we live, it is shown in our action. Our knowledge is our wealth Avanti. And me and our Father is the wealthiest of all the slum people.

Tears rolled down my chick and I couldn't stop myself from adoring my Maa and paa. I feel very fortunate to have them.

Avanti now that you know how wealthy we are, you don't have to worry about being poor, cause that is temporary. I promise you that one day you are going to own everything you want, but your most precious possession will be your knowledge. But you need to learn to be strong, you cannot let people exploit you. We become part of the crime if we let someone push us down. Being strong doesn't mean to take all the blame and still have the strength to stand with your head down. Our integrity and dignity is in our hand, and do not loose it to someone. Never ever let someone pull you down.

But Maa, they are stronger than me... I sobbed!!

She pulled me together and hugged me tight..

My dad was standing at the door listening to all our conversation. He eye were swollen and wet with tears.

He came rushing and hugged me even tighter. I looked at him and buried my head in his chest.

Avanti, believing that you are weak, is the fuel you are putting in those monstrous childrens.

Believing is like creating a surface for your soul. The weaker the surface , the soul gets dragged deep down in hell. The stronger the surface you create for your soul, the more powerful it gets. You are what you fed into your mind Avanti. Mark every word that your Mother said. You are a gem, and don't let your shine fade away in darkness.

Every word that he said, hit me hard like a rock, making my soul stronger.

I believed in every word that he said. I'm not going to let anyone belittle me anymore. I'm what I let myself to be. And I'm not going to be the weak and pathetic girl that I have made myself to be.

I looked up to Maa and Paa... I promise you that I'll be the wealthiest and strongest person like you both.

That day, and every other day after that was like a new life. A life full of strength, a Life full of wisdom.

25yrs after that day, breaking all the stereotypes, I stood firmly addressing the gathering and dictating my life experience to my fellow Doctors.

We give LIFE!! We give HOPE!! We are the image of the Creator himself!!! Let's live up to it!!