When this better half made her life whole

By R Venkatesh

Bangalore: This true love story began three years ago, on the eve of Women's Day. When Venkatesh, friend of Hemavathis brother, expressed his love for her, she brushed it aside as a show of sympathy.

When men view women with deformities as a “curse,” Venkatesh, who works in a slaughter house, had no problem marrying Hemavathi, who is polio-stricken and paralysed waist-down.

This true love story began three years ago, on the eve of Women’s Day. When Venkatesh, friend of Hemavathi’s brother, expressed his love for her, she brushed it aside as a show of sympathy. She joined the Cheshire Home for the disabled on Airport Road to pursue her studies. After she completed her 10th standard, Venkatesh again repeated the gesture and offered her a ring, despite knowing that she was suffering from tuberculosis.

Venkatesh attends even to Hemavathi’s basic chores and takes her around in a wheel-chair. He works in a slaughterhouse on Pottery Road, Frazer Town, from 2 am to 10 am and spends the day with his family.

For over a year, they were hesitant to have a child as they were scared that their offspring would be born with deformities. Finally, when they decided to have a child, the couple visited temples, mosques and churches during Hemavathi’s pregnancy.

All their prayers were answered the day Sapna was born, hale and hearty. As an orphan, Venkatesh had to take care of himself. “I don’t remember from where I belong to. I started working at the slaughter house at a young age,” he says.

Hemavathi’s family is from Andhra Pradesh and she spent her childhood with her brother. Later, she joined a school for the disabled and grew up there. This family has their share of woes as well.

“During the last monsoons, our tiny house roof came down. But we have no regrets. We are happy and hope our dream of having a roof over our head will come true one day,” she said.

Source: Deccan Herald