19th Oct 2023
It's 6 a.m., a pleasant morning. Roshani felt like she was breathing different air, it was the same
air, but it was the way she breathed that changed. Her 4 sessions of yoga with Smita made her feel
that. She sipped the hot chai thinking about whether she should go for a counselling session or not.
It was her first time, and a lack of awareness about counseling was giving her anxiety. "Will I be
asked to describe that horrifying day again?" was her biggest fear.
Will all her courage Roshani asked Smita, "I am ready for counselling. Tell me what time should we
meet?" "That's great Roshani. Ok, did you have your breakfast?" asked Smita. Roshani paused and
replied, "I... am. yet to have it." Smita casually had a chat with her for 30-35 minutes, and tried
to know about her likes - dislikes, choices, and preferences. And in the end said, "So we are done
with our session number one." Roshani was surprisingly asked, "Done? That's it? This was it? You
don't want to ask me anything else?" Smita smiled and said, "For today this is enough, rest we will
keep for next!"
Roshani confidently walked towards the breakfast area with an ever-brimming brimming on her face
smile. Arunima was already having her breakfast with the other group. Roshani served a plate for
herself and joined them. "I started Aanchal in 2018. We thought we would not be able to grow as
COVID brought the whole world to a halt. But, to our surprise, our Aanchal family increased the most
in COVID times, to date. It was not easy. But giving up was not a choice. 3 of our Taai's started
making fabric masks. Thankfully the nearby pharmacies ordered them in bulk. Aanchal started getting
the funds again. Today, it feels so exhilarating to be running so many campaigns with different
communities. We are not looking for sympathy, we want to make these women feel like they earned it
for themselves." Arunima paused, "Why are you all looking at me? Please continue eating, the food
won't taste good once it goes cold, please have it." The audience had a light moment and the
clattering sound of spoons meeting the plates could be heard again. One of them said, "This poha is
so tasty, the best I have ever eaten. Why don't you open a food stall and serve breakfast for 2-3
hours in the morning? I am sure the food won't last that long! So lovely homely taste it has!"
Arunima smiles and replies, "Our Shashi Kaki is the poha expert at Anchal! Thank you for the
compliment, we will think about it!"
Roshani took sessions regularly. It will be too soon to decide whether she healed or not, but she
has started looking at life with a new, different perspective, that is sure!
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